Sumptuous, mesmerizing photography immerses viewers in the seascape and wildlife surrounding fourteen-year-old fraternal twins Iris and Ariel, their older sister, and their often-inattentive mother. The twins’ languorous – though not entirely untroubled − existence on a remote island serves to sharpen their curiosity about the outside world; despite their mother’s warnings, they accept a boat ride to the mainland from a stranger. The shopping mall’s glass elevator and the city’s downtown nightlife prove revelations that whet Iris’s appetite for further exploration. Shortly after Iris’s return to the island, she sneaks away again, to fulfill a secret mission. The sharp contrasts between the pristine natural world and “civilized” society; innocence and experience; seclusion and attachment invite the audience to reflect upon how various forces shape one’s perception and desires. Octopuses can taste what they touch; as an impressionable adolescent with finely honed senses, Iris absorbs and grapples with new sensations. Her ability to adapt substantially to a newfound milieu is reminiscent of the octopus’s capacity for camouflage. Upon her return home, a rift occurs between Iris and the brother with whom she has always shared an extraordinary intimacy. This is one of several narrative elements deliberately left unresolved by the film’s end. Octopus Skin’s sensuous imagery, complemented by evocative music, and the two principal characters’ remarkable portrayals combine to create a riveting visual feast that leaves the audience with much to contemplate.