Watch Kiss of the Spider Woman

Kiss of the Spider Woman is a 1985 drama film based on the novel of the same name written by Manuel Puig. The film was directed by Hector Babenco and stars William Hurt, Raul Julia, and Sonia Braga in the lead roles. The film tells the story of two men, Molina and Valentin, who are cellmates in a Latin American prison during the 1970s. Molina, a homosexual window dresser, is in prison for having sex with a minor, while Valentin is a political prisoner, a member of a revolutionary group.

The movie opens with Molina (William Hurt) being transferred to Valentin's cell. At first, Valentin (Raul Julia) is hostile towards Molina because he sees him as an untrustworthy, effeminate character. However, Molina is an expert in storytelling and manages to win Valentin over by telling him stories about movies he has seen, particularly films featuring glamorous women. During their conversations, Molina opens up about his personal life, including his decision to become a transvestite, and his love for a handsome waiter named Gabriel (Alejandro Rey).

As time passes, Valentin begins to trust Molina and tells him about his political beliefs and the reasons for his involvement in the revolutionary movement. Valentin reveals that their movement has been betrayed by its own leader and many of their comrades have been executed or disappeared. Despite Valentin's earnestness, Molina remains more interested in his own fantasies and dreams of escaping the prison with Gabriel. Molina also begins to experience nightmares involving a sinister Spider Woman (Sonia Braga), who appears to be torturing him.

Throughout the film, the relationship between Molina and Valentin deepens, with Valentin using Molina's love of storytelling to manipulate him into revealing information about his relationship with Gabriel. Molina is eventually forced to betray Gabriel's whereabouts to Valentin, who uses the information to rescue Gabriel's sister from being tortured by the government.

The film is a powerful examination of the theme of freedom, exploring the difference between physical and psychological imprisonment. The prison serves as a metaphor for the oppressive nature of the government, and the revolutionaries' struggle to overthrow it. Molina's fantasies, which often involve glamorous women and elopements, are a way for him to escape the harsh reality of prison life. Similarly, Valentin's political beliefs are a way for him to resist the oppression of the government.

The movie features strong performances from the lead actors, particularly William Hurt, who won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Molina. Hurt's portrayal is nuanced, and he manages to convey the vulnerability and gentleness of Molina's character while also showing his strength in standing up to Valentin when necessary. Similarly, Raul Julia gives a solid performance as Valentin, portraying the character as a charismatic leader and a fierce revolutionary.

Overall, Kiss of the Spider Woman is a complex and thought-provoking film that explores political and personal imprisonment through the eyes of two unlikely cellmates. The film manages to balance drama, romance, and political commentary, making it a compelling and engaging watch.

Kiss of the Spider Woman is a 1985 drama with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 80.