Queering Cinema: 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' Accentuates Its Queer Representation 40 Years Later With New Adaptation to Come

"The nicest thing about feeling happy is that you think you'll never be unhappy again."

The 1980s gave audiences a glimpse into queer culture at the highest levels, something previous decades hardly attempted to tackle in a meaningful manner. No film or television series brazenly paved the way for gay characters as the Brazilian epic, "Kiss of the Spider Woman," starring William Hurt and Raul Julia. Though both men were straight in real life, their characters as prisoners during a military dictatorship gave queer representation a new face to consider.

40 years since the film adaptation graced the silver screen, and even though the film takes place in a bygone era, the politics and homophobia of the premise still feel as relevant today as they did in 1985. Hurt stars as Luis Molina in a role that won the veteran actor an Academy Award, and rightfully so. Molina is locked in a prison cell with Valentin (Raul Julia), a gruff activist who opposes the Brazilian dictatorship that has taken over their country. The two converse throughout the film, mostly about Molina's queer identity, the supposed activities that landed him in prison, and Molina's infatuation with old Hollywood.

In a country and at a time when queerness could be misconstrued as criminal behavior, Molina lets it all hang out. Hurt plays Molina as a confident, robe-wearing gay man obsessed with conjuring up plots that would fit in the Golden Age of Hollywood starlets. The two men make days go by in a flash as Molina describes an old thriller he once watched starring a voluptuous actress (Sonia Braga), the object of many of Molina's stories.

Molina chooses to live in the prison of his own making as he recounts to Valentin what he believes is cinema's greatest achievement, but it might also be a Nazi propaganda film. Molina is slowly falling in love with his cellmate, though the seemingly straight Valentin is meanwhile being poisoned. It becomes apparent to the audience in due time that Molina is a rat, sent to Valentin's prison cell to gain his trust and obtain valuable information for undercover police officers.

"Kiss of the Spider Woman" made waves in 1985 as it explores queer identity and sexual attraction in ways unseen to the general public at that time. Pop culture references, hefty dialogue, and unrequited romance take center stage in a movie that is unafraid to tell a deep and solid story. When the two men become physical with one another, despite the sensuality of the moment, the premise takes off into directions that even surprise Molina's imaginative personality.

It's been 40 years since "Kiss of the Spider Woman" debuted to great success, both critically and commercially. Based on a 1976 book by Manuel Puig, the movie's triumphs inspired a musical stage adaptation that had a tremendous impact in the 1990s. Now, out director Bill Condon is bringing the musical version to the silver screen, starring Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, and Jennifer Lopez.

The 2025 adaption had a thunderous premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this past January, reigniting passion for characters that haven't been explored in four decades. Lopez is taking on the Sonia Braga role as a movie star who finally gets the chance to sing and dance in a film... something Lopez has dreamed about doing since her days playing the real-life titular character in 1997's "Selena."

Molina's dreams have surely come true.

"Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1985) is currently available on Max. The "Kiss of the Spider Woman" remake is projected to be released in theaters in the fall of 2025.