Product Details

• Actors: William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, José Lewgoy, Milton Gonçalves
• Directors: Hector Babenco
• Writers: Leonard Schrader, Manuel Puig
• Producers: Altamiro Boscoli, David Weisman, Francisco Ramalho Jr., Gustavo Halbreich, Jaime Sverner
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English, Portuguese
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 2001
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000F4IU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,249 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine, Thoughtful Movie, November 15, 2002

By 

H. F. Corbin "Foster Corbin" (ATLANTA, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kiss of the Spider Woman [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I remember liking this movie when it came out in 1985 but I had forgotten just how good this movie really is. William Hurt certainly deserved the Oscar he won for his portrayal of Molina, an effeminate sex offender-- he is always in character-- on the other hand, Raul Julia is wonderful as a political prisoner too. This film makes a thoughtful statement about both friendship and what being a man is really all about as well.

I can't remember when I have seen such a realistic film. You can almost smell and taste the awful prison food that these two men eat, for instance. The sex between the two men is handled with great delicacy. This is a really fine movie that troubled me long after I saw it again.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "classic" in every sense of the word!, January 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Kiss of the Spider Woman [VHS] (VHS Tape)

UPDATE!
City Lights Home Entertainment Secures North American Distribution Rights to Academy Award(R)-Winning Indie Classic ''Kiss of the Spider Woman''
Friday May 9, 4:15 pm ET
Available on DVD and Blu-Ray for the First Time
Special Collector's Edition Video Package will include never-before-seen footage and a full-length documentary: Tangled Web: Making Kiss of the Spider Woman
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--City Lights Home Entertainment has acquired DVD, digital and television distribution rights to Academy Award®-Winning Indie Classic Kiss of the Spider Woman. The feature film starring William Hurt, Raul Julia, and Sonia Braga, along with a surprising and never-before-seen feature length documentary "Tangled Web: Making Kiss of the Spider Woman", will be available on DVD, Blu-Ray and digitally for the first time in North America at a future date to be announced.
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"Kiss Of The Spider Woman", although an emotionally draining film, is a true classic. Right from the first scene, you feel the frustration of Valentin and Molina, both outcasts of society, yet for very different reasons. The acting is nothing short of extraordinary. William Hurt as the lonely homosexual, Molina, the late Raul Julia as the stern, but deeply caring political prisoner, Valentin, and Sonia Braga [who takes on three different roles, including the title role, and plays them all brilliantly], are what make this film so great. Although Hurt deservingly won the Oscar for Best Actor, the same consideration should have been given to Julia and Braga for their contribution, as they were both nothing short of incredible. Why this great film is not out on DVD is a mystery in itself. If you've seen it, see it again....if you haven't, I highly recommend you do.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly moving and poignant story, June 26, 2008

By 

Laura J. Lendman "DVDBUYER" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kiss of the Spider Woman (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (DVD)

Based on the classic play this film tells the story of friendship, fantasy, love, loss, and betrayl. Set in a foreign prison. Two individuals--a gay man (William Hurt) and str8 man (Raul Julia)form a bond that opens the world of the mind and fantasy to escape the physical realm of their prison walls. Sadly this bond is just a facade to illicit government espionage and secrets.

This film was surely a head of it's time. Some might compare this to a "Brokeback Mountain" style of film. If you are squemish about a film dealing with homosexual aspects this film is perhaps not for you. Even though the film and the story is more mulit-layerd with drama and subtext to be labeled a "gay" film.

The acting performances are incredibly powerful and heart wrenching. Sadly, Raul Julia is no longer alive, but this is a fantastic example of his dramatic ability, when so many are familiar on a larger scale of viewer with his performance as Mr. Addams in ADDAMS FAMILY and ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES. William Hurt does not portray a "typical" gay man for laughs or mocking purposes or explotation. His performances goes much deeper than that.

This film explores how we all can be manipulated by kindness and love when are at our most low and vulnerable place in our life. We all have a choice to merciful and kind, or deceptive to reach our own means. Which eventually backfire on us in eventual time.

I highly suggest reading the play before seeing this film. It might help in understanding.

This is an Oscar winning film and very much so.

Buy it and await the visit and fatal KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN. Will be one to enter this web of complex dimensions. Devout film lovers take note, this should be on your list.