Kiss Of The Spider Woman
Drama
City Lights  (1985) 120 mins R

7.5 (4,196 votes)
Disc 1: The Feature
This groundbreaking film was the first independent ever to receive the top four Oscar nominations including Best Picture for producer David Weisman, and Best Director for Hector Babenco. Adapted by Academy Award nominated screenwriter Leonard Schrader from Manuel Puig's novel, set in a non-specific Latin American country, Kiss of the Spider Woman takes a penetrating look at the role of sex, politics, and torture under an oppressive right-wing regime. The timeless story, more relevant today than ever, follows the complex relationship between two, fundamentally different men with opposite life views - building with emotional crescendo as they gradually come together in a stunning transcendental conclusion. William Hurt delivers his Oscar-winning performance in this captivating tribute to the power of film and fantasy as escape from inhumane ...

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Cast and Crew
William Hurt  ......  Luis Molina
Raul Julia  ......  Valentin Arregui
Sonia Braga  ......  Leni Lamaison / Marta / Spider Woman
José Lewgoy  ......  Warden
Milton Gonçalves  ......  Secret Policeman
Míriam Pires  ......  Mother Molina
Director  .....  Hector Babenco
Producer  .....  David Weisman
Writer  .....  Manuel Puig; Leonard Schrader
Notes
Trivia:
Sonia Braga did not speak English at the time of production, and had to recite her lines phonetically. (more)

Filming Locations:
Praça da Sé, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (more)

Quotes:
[first lines]
Luis Molina: She's... well, she's something a little strange. That's what she noticed, that she's not a woman like all the others. She seems all wrapped up in herself. Lost in a world she carries deep inside her.
(more)

Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 8 nominations (more)