MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Political prisoner Valentin Arregui (Raul Julia) and homosexual pederast Luis Molina (William Hurt) share a Brazilian prison cell in this fantastical drama from the book by Manuel Puig. Sensitive and flamboyant, Molina helps pass the time by recounting memories from one of his favorite films, a wartime romantic thriller that just may also be a Nazi propaganda film. He weaves the characters into an ongoing narrative meant to spur Valentin's imagination and distract him from the brutal realities of political imprisonment and separation from the woman he loves. Hard around the edges, and willing to die for his political principles, Valentin nonetheless allows Molina to penetrate some of his defensive shell. An odd friendship forms between the two vastly different prisoners, the dreamer and the activist. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Valentin is being poisoned by his captors, to compel him to reveal names and secrets, and that Molina may have other agendas that belie his honesty and openness with Valentin. The intense character study builds toward a surprising conclusion. Kiss of the Spider Woman received Oscar nominations for best picture, best director and best adapted screenplay, and Hurt took home the best actor trophy for his portrayal of the soulful and conflicted Molina. The film was later adapted into a Broadway musical. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Screen: Color
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Features:
  • Tangled Web: Making Kiss of the Spider Woman
  • Trivia track in English and Spanish
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • Original mono and 5.1 surround sound
  • Optional subtitles in French and Spanish
  • Optional dubbing in French and Spanish
  • Manuel Puig mini-documentary: The Submissive Woman's Role
  • Spider Woman on Broadway: Mini-documentary with
  • Hal Prince, Jon Kander, Fred Ebb, Chita Rivera, Terrence McNally, Manuel Puig
  • Slide show commentary: Transition From Novel to Film
  • Photo galleries: over 150 exquisite images

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Actor - 1985 (William Hurt)
•     Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay - 1985 (Leonard Schrader)
•     Nominated Best Director - 1985 (Hector Babenco)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 1985 (David Weisman)

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts

•     Won Best Actor - 1985 (William Hurt)

• Cannes Film Festival

•     Won Best Actor - 1985 (William Hurt)

• Independent Spirit Awards

•     Won Best Foreign Film - 1985 (Hector Babenco)

• Los Angeles Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Actor - 1985 (William Hurt)

• National Board of Review

•     Won Best Actor - 1985 (William Hurt, Raul Julia)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 1985

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       William Hurt - Luis Molina
       Raul Julia - Valentin Arregui
       Sonia Braga - Leni Lamaison
       Jose Lewgoy - Warden
       Nuno Leal Maia - Gabriel
       Antonio Petrim - Clubfoot
       Milton Goncalves - Secret Police
       Patricio Bisso - Greta
       Herson Capri - Werner
       Ana Maria Braga - Lidia

• Director:

  Hector Babenco

• Producer:

  Francisco Ramalho, Jr., David Weisman

• Screenwriter:

  Leonard Schrader

• Book Author:

  Manuel Puig

• Cinematographer:

  Rodolfo Sanchez Santinelli

• Composer (Music Score):

  Wally Badarou, John Neschling

• Featured Music:

  Michael Jary

• Composer (Music Score):

  Nando Carneiro

• Editor:

  Mauro Alice, Lee Percy

• Production Designer:

  Clovis Bueno, Felipe Crescenti

• Executive Producer:

  Francisco Ramalho, Jr.

• Set Designer:

  Felipe Crescenti

• Costume Designer:

  Patricio Bisso

• Makeup:

  Nena de Oliveira, Guilherme Pereira

• Additional Music:

  Wally Badarou

REVIEW:

• It's surprising that Kiss of the Spider Woman didn't hit the stage until after it was filmed: Much of the narrative takes place inside the contained space of a Brazilian jail cell, all the more isolated by being boarded off from the rest of the prison. Hector Babenco's sensitive direction avoids claustrophobia by visiting dreamy images from a romantic fantasy/Nazi propaganda film, which William Hurt's Molina describes to Raul Julia's Valentin to distract him from reality. Just as quirky as it sounds, the film triumphs as a study of how imprisonment alters behavioral tendencies -- and inspires unforeseen motivations -- in the prisoners' attempts to simulate normalcy. The gruff Valentin adheres to Molina's flight of fancy and confronts an awakening sexual curiosity, while Molina, the apolitical drama queen, courts danger by agreeing to assist Valentin's rebellion. Both leads show major acting chops here, generously layering their portrayals. Spider Woman is less interesting when it ventures outside the cell, including the muddled, unsatisfying ending. But there's a lot of substance here, and more laughs than one might expect from a prison film, though this certainly strays from that genre. The details of the hokey propaganda film are especially funny. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi