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Kiss of the Spider Woman

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Once upon a time... in a tropical island far away, there lived a strange woman…

19857.02h 0m

Overview

The story of two radically different men thrown together in a Latin American prison cell. One is Valentin, a journalist being tortured for his political beliefs. The other is Molina, a gay window-dresser who fills their lonely nights by spinning romantic fantasies drawn from memories of old movies.

Directed by Héctor Babenco
Written by Leonard Schrader, Manuel Puig
Produced by David Weisman
Box OfficeBudget: $1.3MRevenue: $17.0M

Top Cast

William Hurt

William Hurt

Luis Molina

Raúl Juliá

Raúl Juliá

Valentin Arregui

Sônia Braga

Sônia Braga

Leni Lamaison / Marta / Spider Woman

José Lewgoy

José Lewgoy

Warden

Milton Gonçalves

Milton Gonçalves

Pedro

Miriam Pires

Miriam Pires

Mother

Nuno Leal Maia

Nuno Leal Maia

Gabriel

Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres

Americo

P

Patricio Bisso

Greta

Herson Capri

Herson Capri

Werner

Themes & Keywords

prisonbased on novel or bookpoliticshomophobiamale homosexualitytorturelgbtgay themehomossexualismoprisão

About Kiss of the Spider Woman

Kiss of the Spider Woman is a drama film released in 1985 exploring themes of prison, based on novel or book, politics, homophobia, male homosexuality, torture. Directed by Héctor Babenco, it stars William Hurt, Raúl Juliá, Sônia Braga. The story of two radically different men thrown together in a Latin American prison cell. One is Valentin, a journalist being tortured for his political beliefs. The other is Molina, a gay window-dresser who fills their lonely nights by spinning romantic fantasies drawn from memories of old movies.

Movies Similar to Kiss of the Spider Woman

Discover titles like Kiss of the Spider Woman — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to Kiss of the Spider Woman

If you enjoyed Kiss of the Spider Woman, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Kiss of the Spider Woman
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Howl
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Howl(2010)

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Empire of the Sun
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Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirit, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.