Nxomi???

Kiss of the Spider Woman

To no one’s surprise, yesterday I finished reading the book and still have it very fresh in my mind, so I took the opportunity to watch this version by Brazilian filmmaker Héctor Babenco. William Hurt’s performance and Babenco’s direction are, honestly, impressive. Hurt more than deserves the Oscar he won for this role. His portrayal of Molina is delicate, vulnerable, and deeply human, never losing that theatrical air that defines the character. The dynamism he achieves with Raúl Juliá is so hermetic that it ends up completely enveloping the cell, filling it with shades of intimacy and emotional domination. There is something almost claustrophobic in the way their dialogues feel like caresses, clashes, and confessions all at once. Of course, I liked the book a thousand times more. That is not up for discussion. The novel is more complex, riskier, and far more political in the way it tells its story. Additionally, I am left really wanting to have seen more of what I believe is the most iconic film narrated in the book: the one about the panther woman. I would have loved to see that duality and that subtle comparison. Even so, Babenco’s greatest achievement lies in the atmosphere and the movement of the camera, as well as in the narrative fusion between the reality of the prison and, precisely, the visual interpretation of the film that Molina narrates. The fantasy sequences function as an emotional and symbolic escape, not only for Molina but also for the viewer, and they help reinforce the idea that fiction can be a form of survival. Although the film simplifies certain aspects of the book and softens some of its more uncomfortable edges, it remains a powerful, intimate, and effective adaptation.

BelugaJames

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Brilliant performances bring this film to life. Bleak, yet hopeful.