Winner of Berlin’s Teddy Award 2007 for best gay/lesbian feature film, Spider Lillies is a stylish, hip drama about the blooming romance of a timid tattoo artist and a sexy webcam girl.

Tattoo artist Takeko keeps a framed design of the poisonous spider lily flower on the wall of her parlor, literally cut from the flesh of her father. Following the traumatic death of her father in an earthquake, the image not only became an important link between Takeko and her father, but also to Takeko’s traumatized brother Ching, who, since the accident, is no longer able to recognize anyone—including his sister.

When webcam girl Jade visits Takeko’s parlor, she becomes entranced by the tattoo of the framed spider lily (as well as the identical tat on sexy Takeko herself). Taken with the quiet artist, Jade invites Takeko to visit her on her website, and recalls the crush she had on the Takeko as a child.

With lush rural flashbacks complimenting the film’s modern sensibilities, lesbian director Zero Chou’s Spider Lillies is a beautifully well-rounded film not simply about the two women’s romance, but also about the grander and universal themes of family obligations, guilt, and suppression.

ADMISSION:  $10 non-member / $8 members