Paper Spiders

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I was fortunate enough to see this beautiful film during its World Premiere at Dances With Films and I loved it. Inon Shampanier directed and co -wrote the script with his wife Natalie Shampanier. I have always been a Lily Taylor fan and I thought her work was absolutely beautiful in this film as a woman suffering from mental illness. I also fell in love with Stefania La Vie Owen and can't wait to see what work is ahead for her. These two women were wonderful together and absolutely broke my heart.

I had the pleasure of seeing this film on opening night, and haven't forgotten it since. It's based on a true story that captures a kind of mother-daughter relationship that we don't see often enough on screen. I am sometimes wary of the repetitious tropes of stories about mental illness, but the filmmakers here have broken new ground and vitalized this sensitive genre while walking the tightrope of storytelling that is both charming and challenging, and speaking truth about dysfunctional love and the importance of family. It's funny and accessible, the dialogue sings, and all the characters are really engaging. I highly recommend that you give this one a watch. You won't be disappointed. I'm happy to share that, of the dozens of family and friends who I've recommended it to, all have reported back glowing reviews and urgent pleas for filmmakers to tell more stories like this one!

This one deserves to be recognized. I can't personally think of another similar story out there and that uniqueness is something special. This movie shines a light on what it is like to care for somebody with an illness (of any kind) and the repercussions of that, for the victim and their loved ones. There are some astounding performances by Taylor, Owen, and Nelson, and the rest of the cast feels so right as well for this story. It starts with a fantastic script, which is in part due to the fact that this seems to be a personal and touching story. The direction, writing, and cinematography are very strong and hook you in right from the beginning.

Paper Spiders is a beautifully written story about a teen's struggle to save her mentally ill mother from self-destruction. Perfectly cast and sensitively portrayed, this coming-of-age story is worth every minute and will leave you marveling at the strength of the human heart.

Wow Was very pleasantly surprised by this film. It was a heavy subject with just the right amount of levity to be funny yet still retain the gravity of the subject. My wife's mother suffers from mental illness and if you've ever known someone who truly suffers you'll know Lili Taylor's performance is phenomenal and extremely convincingly played. Everything flowed together very well (plot and character development, beat and the killer soundtrack). The real gem here was Stefania's performance, she is a rising star and her chemistry with Lili was off the chart. In summary, a smart, touching and illuminating dramedy; definitely worth a watch.

source: Paper Spiders

I can not recommend this film enough. It tackles the tough issue of mental illness with such truth. Seeing the struggle of a daughter trying to navigate coming-of-age while her mother gets caught in her delusions, is handled with care. The films performances by every character, and especially the leads, are phenomenal. The acting is uplifted by the lovely direction, cinematography, and set design. I hope this film reaches the widest audience and helps others either feel seen, or gain a new perspective. Well done!

Paper Spiders is a beautifully written story about a teen's struggle to save her mentally ill mother from self-destruction. Perfectly cast and sensitively portrayed, this coming-of-age story is worth every minute and will leave you marveling at the strength of the human heart.

Glad to see this project; hopefully this film will help de-stigmatize mental illness which is more prevalent than I ever realized. The message that there are helpful options available to those who suffer and that those people need our love and caring really comes through in the picture. The serious topic is lightened by successful comic relief and the portrayal of a teenage girl's coming of age. Well told and brilliantly directed.