Kiss of the Spider Woman Blu-Ray Review

Kiss of the Spider Woman is one of the most unusual buddy movies ever made. It tells the story of two radically different men thrown together in a Latin American prison cell.

The film focuses on Luis Molina (William Hurt), a gay window-dresser, and Valentin Arregui (Raul Julia), a political prisoner with a leftist revolutionary group. They fill their lonely nights by spinning romantic fantasies drawn from old movies.

How to watch

In 1985, Kiss of the Spider Woman broke new ground as the first gay film to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. It also made William Hurt the first openly gay actor to win an Academy Award.

The film is based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Manuel Puig, and was directed by Hector Babenco. The film is a compelling look at the intense bond between two men who share the same cell in a South American prison during a brutal military dictatorship.

Luis Molina (William Hurt) is a flamboyant homosexual window dresser who is imprisoned for corrupting a minor. To pass the time, he regales his prison cellmate Valentin Arregui (Raul Julia) with stories from old movies.

It's a fascinating study of how escapism can be a way to cope with the grim realities of prison life. It's also an intriguing look at the clash between reality and fantasy.

But what makes this movie stand out is its depiction of a friendship that develops in prison between two people who would have little use for each other if they met on the street. The two men come to respect one another as the time goes on, but they have a tough time putting their differences aside in order to move forward.

The movie is beautifully shot and it's easy to see why it was a critical success in its original release. The claustrophobic nature of the prison setting is well exploited, and the juxtaposition between the real and fictional worlds created by Molina's movies is a visually striking one.

However, the movie can sometimes fall into a trap of confusing fantasy with true love. The ending, where Valentin slips into a fantasy about his former lover, is especially clunky and melodramatic.

But the film is a worthwhile watch and Hector Babenco does a great job of bringing Puig's novel to life. It's a gripping drama that's undone only by its melodramatic moments and overblown climax.

Synopsis

The novel Kiss of the Spider Woman, written by Manuel Puig and adapted into a play for stage and radio, and then a film directed by Hector Babenco, is a lyrical testament to human dignity. Its denunciation of sexual and political repression, treated poetically and with an uncommon degree of tenderness, contributed to its success.

Argentine writer Manuel Puig's novels are a witty, bittersweet mix of social commentary, fiction, and surrealist parody. He honed his writing style, which incorporates dialogue and stream of consciousness, as well as faux secondary sources like diary entries, surveillance reports, and newspaper articles, to his own idiosyncratic voice.

Two men, one a tough revolutionary, the other an unabashed gay man, are cell mates in a South American prison. Valentin is a strong believer in his cause, while Molina takes refuge in movie-musical memories of the glamorous actress Aurora.

As they narrate their favorite films, Molina and Valentin slowly develop feelings for one another. As their friendship deepens, the two men become entangled in a web of intrigue and betrayal.

In an effort to ease his pain and make his friend feel better, Molina tells Valentin a story of an imaginary movie about Marta the Spider Woman. He says that she is a character who is trapped on a desert island, but after she tries to escape, she gets captured by a spider and nursed back to life.

The story is evocative and moving, and the performances are superb. William Hurt as Molina is particularly memorable, bringing to life a flamboyant gay window dresser who escapes into the glamour of women's pictures.

Sonia Braga as Marta is another standout, delivering the most heart-wrenching performance of her career. Her glimmering eyes and slicked-back hair give her an effect reminiscent of Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient, and she has just the right ethereal quality for a character that is a mirror to Valentin.

The movie is a winner, despite some of its dark undertones, because it is so much fun to watch. Kander and Ebb's luminous score is a perfect match for the cinematic style of Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Cast

Adapted from Manuel Puig's novel El beso de la mujer arana, Kiss of the Spider Woman is a dazzling spectacle that juxtaposes gritty reality with liberating fantasy. The film stars William Hurt and Raul Julia, both of whom play flamboyant homosexuals who share a cell in an unnamed South American prison.

As the film opens, Luis Molina (William Hurt) is a flamboyant homosexual who has been imprisoned for corrupting a minor. His cellmate is Valentin Arregui (Raul Julia), a revolutionary who has been arrested for his leftist political activities.

Both men are hardened, but they find they have a bond that transcends their differences. As they share their fantasies about Aurora, a screen goddess who can kill with a kiss, the two men start to develop trust and respect for one another.

The film is based on Manuel Puig's novel, and while it may not be as complex as the book, it does get its sexual politics right without looking like it's trying to be. And the two leading men's performances are top notch.

For instance, Raul Julia is very understated at first, but when he is re-introduced into the film he comes on strong and we believe in him immediately. He is a very good actor and has an impressive range.

But it takes a while for us to really see the depth of his character and his willingness to sacrifice himself. And while we do understand that he wants to please Valentin, this doesn't stop him from being very manipulative.

Once the two men become betrayal-ensconced, they are forced to make difficult choices between their contrasting ideologies. The movie is a clever study of the power of fiction and the way people can be manipulated through clever storytelling.

It also makes a powerful statement about the importance of preserving the human spirit, especially when faced with adversity. It is a film that makes you want to see it again, and is a worthy addition to your collection.

Trailer

The trailer for Kiss of the Spider Woman - a celebrated 1985 drama starring William Hurt and Raul Julia - has been released by British distributors Curzon Artificial Eye. This is a remastered Blu-ray release of a film that is a lot more than 1980s multiplex fodder and, as such, deserves a spot on any movie lover's collection.

Quite possibly the most unusual buddy movie ever made, Kiss of the Spider Woman is an exceptional character drama. It pairs two men who would have little use for each other if they met on the street but locked together in a prison cell, their relationship deepens from mutual distrust to understanding and respect.

Director Hector Babenco's claustrophobic prison scenes are the stuff of nightmares but the visuals remain arresting throughout. The old movie clips are a stark contrast to their grim surroundings and the cinematography deftly exploits this.

While many contemporary films of this sort (Cool Hand Luke, Escape from Alcatraz) focus on the harsh realities of life behind bars, Kiss of the Spider Woman takes a more fanciful approach. The film, based on a novel by Manuel Puig, is a dazzling spectacle that juxtaposes gritty reality with liberating fantasy.

Molina (William Hurt) is a flamboyant homosexual window dresser who is imprisoned for corrupting a minor. During his time in the solitary confinement, he entertains himself by retelling stories from his favorite movies. As his mental horizons grow wider, Molina opens up about his unrequited love for a friend. In a film within the film, Molina tells Valentin (Raul Julia) about a wartime romantic thriller that also served as a Nazi propaganda film.

As they share their fantasies, the two men begin to form a bond despite their divergent ideologies and social status. Their recollections of Aurora, the glamorous diva who portrayed a Spider Woman that could kill with her kiss, meld with their real-life relationships and become an inspiration for them both.

In this way, Kiss of the Spider Woman becomes a story about what it means to be a hero. As a result, it is an inspiring, powerful piece of cinema. It's not just a great film, it is one of the most important movies of the 1980s. It was a groundbreaking work that broke down the barriers of gay acceptance and became the first film to win an Oscar for a homosexual lead actor.