Rainie Yang and Isabella Leong star in the Taiwanese film “Spider Lilies” by out director Zero Chou. It won the Teddy Award at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival for Best Feature Film. Spider Lilies was also a box-office success, holding the record for being the top-grossing film in Taiwan this year. It was even allowed to be shown with an R21 rating in Singapore, where homosexuality is still considered taboo by the government (you can be jailed for having lesbian sex, no kidding).

The strong ticket sales in Taiwan may be partially explained by the popularity of the two leadings actresses. Both Rainie and Isabella are young, attractive pop idols, 23 and 19, respectively. Things have been said about the acting, but just seeing how the actors were able to switch ages convincingly through their characters (Rainie’s Jade is around 17, while Isabella’s Takeko is in her mid-20s) is a testament to their skills. In addition, the story is intricate with plenty of flash backs, and the visuals are highly detailed and appealing.

Rainie Yang plays Jade, a feisty teen running a strip-tease webcam business from her bedroom, unknown to her grandma who lives with her. Isabella Leong, meanwhile, plays the brilliant but repressed tattoo artist Takeko. She has her own shop and lives with her younger brother. The differences between these characters are like night and day. The way they clash and complement each other makes their onscreen chemistry palpable.

* WARNING: Spoilers ahead *

One night, when Takeko left her house to be with her girlfriend, tragedy ensued. An earthquake rocked Taiwan (based on a real earthquake in 1999 which claimed many lives) and when she returned home, their house had collapsed, her father had died, and her brother had lost all his memories. Takeko then had the spider lilies tattoo placed on her arm, the same way her father did, in the hopes of helping her brother remember. She never spoke to the girl and shielded herself from emotion. The guilt from her past is a major influence on the character.

When Jade runs into Takeko, Jade remembers her as her first love when she was 9 years old. Takeko dismisses this as unreliable recollections from Jade’s childhood. However, Jade is persistent, and she eventually gets Takeko to slowly open up. In the process, Takeko comes to terms with her own inner demons. For those who are wondering, yes, it ends on a happy note.

Spider Lilies is a story about memories, and how we can be held prisoners by our past. Its use of strong symbols like the tattoos make this a richly layered film. Western audiences not familiar with Asian culture may find some parts odd, so acceptance of a different reality in the East is a must. This film is a must-see for those looking for lesbian movies that delve deep into the characters. Spider Lilies is definitely more than your typical coming out film.