Lesbian life in Taiwan is anything but gay, at least as portrayed in this quartet of tales whose trendy but humourless denizens are afflicted with intense cases of female trouble.

The feature debut of music video director Chen Hung-i has artistic pretensions and indeed has been selected for inclusion in numerous international film festivals but the glossy surface does little to mask the paucity of emotional genuineness that afflicts these ladies in love.

The first story is chock-full of languorous pauses as former school chums Jessie (Belle Hsin) and Pon (Grace Chen) take their puppy love to a higher level. Chapter two is edgier, about obsessive-compulsive chef Miao Miao (Sandrine Pinna) and her attempts to connect with a bubbly editor.

The third segment is more connected to societal realities about lovers Summer (Kao I-ling) and Spancer (Niki Wu Li-chi) who are forced to separate due to the former's upcoming (heterosexual) marriage. The premise is rich enough for a feature-length film but at 26 minutes it is underdeveloped.

The final vignette spotlights the movie's biggest star, Karena Lam, in the campiest role of her career as a tomboy with many girls on a string.

Incredibly, Candy Rain beat The Warlords and Red Cliff to win best makeup and costume design at last year's Golden Horse Awards.

If Pon, Spancer and the others didn't take themselves so seriously, they might well see the irony of those blockbusters' macho warriors bested by Candy Rain's band of lovelorn lesbians. Extras: Movie booklet and bonus disc with a 'Making of' documentary, music video and trailer.