Kiss of the Spider Woman opened in 1985 to rave reviews and an unprecedented run for an inde­pendent feature. However, after its Oscar-win­ning success, it virtually disappeared from theatres for over ten years. Until now.

Based on the novel by Manuel Puig, Kiss of the Spider Woman tells the story of two dissimi­lar cellmates who find camaraderie: Molina (William Hurt), imprisoned on morals charges, who dramatically reenacts escapist films; and the withdrawn Valentin (the late Raul Julia), a self­ disciplined intellectual leftist. As Valentin gets absorbed into Molina's fantasies, Molina com­mits himself to Valentin's causes, creating a fra­ternal bond that surprises them both. Sonia Braga stars in three showcase roles: Valentin's lost love, the star of Molina's fantasies, and the Spider Woman who weaves them all together.

Kiss of the Spider Woman made history for its uncompromising portrayal of Molina. William Hurt won the Oscar for Best Actor, the first time it was given for a gay role, which awarded legitimacy to gay men as lead characters in film and encouraged other actors to tackle for­ merly taboo roles.