Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)

Kiss of the Spider Woman starts out simply enough, hemmed in by the narrow walls of a Latin American prison cell. Molina (William Hurt) is telling his new cellmate, Valentin (Raul Julia), his favorite story. Molina is a delicate homosexual imprisoned for seducing a minor; Valentin is a bearded revolutionary still bleeding from his interrogation. If their film unfolded into the typical prison buddy plot, it'd still be a good movie. But this is a great movie. There are stories twisting within stories, each drawing a new, surprising level of difference between the two heroes: escapism versus realism, romance versus politics, gay versus straight, hero versus coward. As their unstable friendship grows more real, their stories become more vivid--whether Molina's fondly remembered Nazi propaganda noir, Valentin's tortured romantic history, or a tropical island fable told merely to pass the time. (Each substory stars Sonia Braga, a neat bit of casting that further blurs the line between fantasy and reality.) By the end, each man has changed just enough to taste the other's tragedy--a transformation that gives each the strength to define freedom on his own terms, despite the brutality of the prison and the bleak world beyond its walls. --Grant Balfour Amazon.com

The most delicate of kisses...

There are few films that are able to hold your interest with a simple conversation. Most movies pack on the action and suspense and travel from scenic route to scenic route in an attempt to strap you to your seat in excitement. It is truly a rare gem, a special treat, when one is able to just sit back and watch life unfold in the simplest yet most heartfelt of manners.

That is just what happens in `Kiss of the Spider Woman'.

The film opens with imprisoned homosexual Luis Molina telling a vivid story to his cellmate, Valentin Arregui. Molina acts out each scene in detail, and he croons over each and every word; his eyes lighting up as he reenacts the heroine's gown. Valentin is less than impressed, at least it would seem. Luis has been imprisoned for seducing a minor; Valentin is a political prisoner. The two couldn't be more different, yet the two of them form a bond behind these prison walls that is unlike any you or I have experienced on screen before.

The film rarely leaves the confines of the cell, departing from time to time to tell us a story (Luis likes to explain his favorite movie in great detail to help pass the time) but the film never comes off as boring. The relationship building between Molina and Arregui is enough to hold our interest for far longer than the films running time even, so don't be afraid that its small space will lead to early retirement.

William Hurt and Raul Julia are flawlessly compatible and brilliantly convey the true emotional connection between these two men. Originally they were to play opposite roles, but when chemistry wasn't right they decided to swap parts, and it worked so much better. That worked out wonderfully for Hurt (who acts down to his very tip toes), who wound up winning the Oscar for his tortured portrayal of Luis Molina.

The film is really a story within a story, as it broaches the effects of political tyranny as well as conditioned discrimination. And then there is the beautifully woven tale of Leni Lamaison, as told by Luis Molina. While Lamaison's tale is of political espionage it has a much deeper meaning, as can be seen when Molina tells his tale of the mystical Spider Woman or when Valentin confides in Molina of his love, Marta. The fact that all three of these characters are played by the same actress, Sonia Braga, help blur the boundaries of reality and fiction and help portray an aspect of these men's lives that is absent behind those cold cell walls; freedom. She represents there need to be free and she provides them escape while they are physically in bondage. You might even be urged to conclude that they represent one another; representing Valentin for Luis and Luis for Valentin, for it is within one another that they find true happiness.

The film is expertly constructed and marvelously directed by Hector Babenco who worked wonders with Leonard Schrader's adaptation of Manuel Puig's novel. The contrasts between the secluded confines of the prison cell to the gallant freedom felt on the Spider Woman's island are marvelous depictions of pure human emotion and help connect us to this beautiful tale. With brilliant performances by Hurt, Julia and Braga, accompanied by a tightly woven script and a delicate hand, `Kiss of the Spider Woman' is by far one of the best movies of all time. November 5, 2008

Kiss of the Spider Woman Review from The Massie Twins

To each his own form of escape. For political prisoner Valentin it is a dream of freedom with the woman he loves; for cellmate Luis it is to gain a sense of higher purpose by becoming involved with a selfless cause for a love he can never have. In Kiss of the Spider Woman film is an escape on two levels - a momentary reverie from inhuman conditions in a nondescript bastille and as pure cinematic escapism for the viewer who can become lost in a movie of thought-provoking fantasy and film-within-a-film parallels.

Luis Molina (William Hurt) is a [....] window dresser, now a convict in an undefined Latin American prison (marked simply with the name Pavilhao IV), locked away for corrupting a minor. His cellmate is Valentin Arregui (Raul Julia), a journalist revolutionary detained and tortured for his political ties. At first Valentin is annoyed by Molina's fanciful attitude as the two men clearly have opposite life views, but eventually grows to depend on his kindness - a complex relationship that becomes even more intricate when Luis begins to fall in love.

Molina passes the time by telling the story of one of his favorite films, a German propaganda feature that finds distracted singer Leni (Sonia Braga) falling for an enemy Nazi soldier, confused about whether to continue aiding the French Resistance with a plot to steal a secret map to a German arsenal, or trusting in the man she loves. As her story progresses, Molina's real life begins to imitate the embroidered fiction of the movie - for his involvement with Valentin evolves into something shockingly deliberate.

The performances by William Hurt and Raul Julia are quite masterful, with Hurt embodying a quirky and unexpected character resoundingly unique amongst major roles of the time (they were purportedly cast in each other's roles, switching when the chemistry wasn't natural). Although the story is daringly bizarre and oddly beautiful, it is the performances by the leading roles that outshine the morals of the tale. Hurt in drag with his lingering monologues and frequent one-sided conversations is a courageous role that won him the Best Actor Oscar of 1985.

Kiss of the Spider Woman's claim to fame was it's groundbreaking achievement of being the first independent film ever to receive the top four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture for producer David Weisman, Best Director for Hector Babenco, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Leonard Schrader from Manuel Puig's novel. A melancholy romantic theme presides over the muted browns of Molina's fantasy narrative and the darkly tinted blues of their bleak existence as pawns for the oppressive right-wing regime. The escapism and fantasy of Kiss of the Spider Woman is just as relevant as today, and this disturbingly singular film is a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable retreat.

- Mike Massie


November 1, 2008

Classic beauty

I still wonder what took so long for the studios to release such a great piece of art. I am so happy to have this film in my collection. The documentary is very good and it took me back to the eighties when it was actually made. I remember purchasing the book by Manuel Puig long before the rights were sold to the studios and when it actually happened I could not believe I would be able to see Molina in flesh and blood. William Hurt was a promising actor and we now still enjoy his presence in many movies. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Raul Julia who died some time ago. So lovely and powerful and I must say, a great loss. I miss him a lot. Sonia Braga looks fabulous and she still is: a Brazilian Muse for all to see. "Kiss of the Spider Woman" is and stays a classic beauty. A story about love and conviction that will never loose its charm, poetry and most of all, a sense of being human. October 24, 2008

Wonderful Movie

Great, thought proking movie. A well deserved Oscar for William Hurt and great performance by the late, wonderful Raul Julia. October 6, 2008

Spider Woman on Blu-ray

I can honestly say after all these years of watching a crummy VHS copy of *Kiss Of The Spider Woman* that I never thought I''d see the film finally hit DVD. To my surprise it jumped to Blu-ray too. Quick note before the Blu-ray review. The two disc standard DVD edition is selling for 34 dollars exclusively on Amazon. While the Blu-ray edition is selling for only 27 dollars exclusively on Amazon. Both editions include the exact same features except the Blu-ray is of course in 1080p HD. If you've got a blu-ray player, it's a no brainer which one to buy.

The Blu-ray image for *Kiss Of The Spider Woman* is good. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the best. I'd give this a 2.5 to 3. The image is not perfect. This is a very low budget film made in the early 80's. The print source has clearly not been kept in the best of conditions. I suppose they did the best they could restoring it. There are scratch marks every once in a while. Not a lot, but enough to notice. There's usually presence of grain through out the entire film. This is to be expected though. Grain is simply a natural element seen in most movies. Blu-ray just makes it clearer now. Lets talk about the positive now. The color is fantastic. This is such a gritty and dark film that I was surprised by how much the color stuck out. The film uses a lot of natural lighting. William Hurt's red lipstick or his red dress really stick out. Even the dirt and grime in the corner of the jail cell. This is where Blu-ray clearly shows it's superiority. The image is surprisingly sharp. I thought the image would be soft, but it wasn't. This is probably the best the film has looked since it's theatrical release. Like I said, this film is dark and gritty and takes place inside a jail cell for the most part.

I'll post a screenshot comparison from the Blu-ray and my original VHS. Even though it will be from a TV screen with my digital camera thus reducing the quality. You'll clearly be able to see the color difference between the two. Though I haven't viewed the standard DVD edition to compare. Anyone who's watched a few quality Blu-ray can tell you that this is certainly going to look better then it's standard DVD counterpart. The biggest difference will be the flesh tones IMO. On this Blu-ray they simply look great and natural. Colors are brighter. Details are a little more clearer.

The special features are the same on both editions. The *Tangled Web* making of documentary runs a lengthy 1 hour and 48 minutes. It's packed with interviews form everyone involved. It's really the best fans could ask for. It's packed with info. There's also three shorter featurettes titled *Manuel Puig: The Submissive Woman's Role* (9 minutes) Making The Musical: Spider Woman On Broadway (11 minutes) From Novel To Film (36 minutes) So almost another hour of making of material. There's also a trivia track, a photo gallery, and trailers. The 4 docs is where the meat is. All the special features are presented in 480 standard definition BTW.

What about the film though? The only thing I can compare it to is Brokeback Mountain, Midnight Express, or Papillon. It's about a gay window dresser bonding with a revolutionist in a Latin American prison. Odds are if you didn't want to see Brokeback Mountain then you won't want to see this. Hopefully you give it a shot though. *Spider Woman* takes it's time with it's two leading characters. Which is a very good thing because William Hurt and Raul Julia give two of their finest performances. They ARE these characters. We see there relationship grow form the beginning all the way to haunting ending. I wouldn't really call it a love story, but it's certainly about a very strong friendship. If it weren't for Kurosawa's *Ikiru* I'd probably call this the best character study on film. Yes, it's that good.

The Film: 5 / 5
Special Features: 4.5 / 5
Blu-ray Picture Quality: 2.5-3 / 5 September 16, 2008

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