Directed by:
Hector BabencoScreenplay:
Leonard SchraderCast:
William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sônia Braga, José Lewgoy, Milton Gonçalves, Luiz Serra, Wilson Grey, Fernando Torres, Sergio Kato, Antônio Petrin, Miguel FalabellaPlots(1)
Two cell mates in a South American prison are wildly different men. Luis (William Hurt) is a trans individual who is found guilty of immoral behavior and Valentin (Raul Julia) is a political prisoner. To escape reality Luis invents romantic movies, while Valentin tries to keep his mind on the situation he's in. However, during the time they spend together, the two men come to understand and respect one another more than they ever knew they could. (Artificial Eye)
(more)Reviews (3)
This low budget film, set almost entirely in a single cell, is graced by a mesmerising Oscar-winning performance by William Hurt as an oversensitive homosexual man. ()
A peculiar film indeed, but despite everything, it has an interesting plot that can definitely captivate you. Even though it's essentially one big mess, thanks to William Hurt, it works brilliantly right until the end, both when the story is being told and when the actual events unfold. A strange film, but strangely beautiful. ()
It doesn't happen very often that a Brazilian film makes an impact at the Oscars. Kiss of the Spider Woman succeeded in doing so at one point. This intimate drama about the unique relationship between two prisoners during the time of the Brazilian military dictatorship doesn't seem to offer much to the average viewer at first glance, as it mostly takes place in the claustrophobic space of a single cell. Political prisoner Arregui is one of those regime opponents who has given both the secret police and the prison administration a hard time. The young homosexual Louis appears to be susceptible to blackmail and manipulation, which is why he is placed in the cell as an informant. Hypersensitive Louis escapes from the inhospitable and stressful environment of the cell into a world of dreams and fantasies in the style of cheap kitschy films from the 1930s and 1940s. Both men gradually find their way to each other despite their personality differences, and a special kind of friendship develops. The film's success and its emotional impact on viewers is largely due to William Hurt's concentrated and outstanding performance as the effeminate Louis, for which the actor even received an Oscar. In addition to the touching story of friendship and sacrifice, the surreal excursions into the intoxicating world of melodramas full of pathos and sentiment impress me personally. Overall impression: 90%. ()
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