The Cinema Museum are pleased to be hosting a 35mm presentation of Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985). The screening will be introduced by Rebecca Nicole Williams and preceded by an exclusive screening of David Weisman’s introduction to the film at the Academy in 2017 from his own archive. By generous permission of Mr. Weisman, all proceeds of this screening will go to the #SaveTheCinemaMuseum campaign fund.

After residing in Japan for many years writing films like The Yakuza (1974), Blue Collar (1978) and Mishima (1985) with his brother Paul, scholar, author and screenwriter Leonard Schrader returned to America to adapt Manuel Puig’s landmark novel about two prisoners in an unnamed South American jail during the time of the Brazilian Military Government. Bringing the two ardent cinephiles together with Argentine director Hector Babenco, producer David Weisman created a classic film, the first independent film to be nominated for Best Picture.

Academy Award Winner for Best Actor William Hurt plays Luis Molina, ostensibly a homosexual man who openly questions his gender in long conversations with his cellmate, political prisoner Valentin Arregui (Raul Julia). Luis also recounts the plot of a Nazi propaganda film of the 1940s. Sonia Braga plays three roles, Arregui’s girlfriend Marta, the glamourous star of the film within the film and the mystical Spider Woman.

Schrader’s adaptation of Puig’s landmark discussion on the psychoanalytic theory on homosexuality at the time, is also a heartbreaking political thriller and an unconventional romance about human connection as a means of survival.

Doors open at 18.30, for a 19.00 start.

Refreshments will be available in our licensed cafe/bar.

TICKETS & PRICING

Tickets 6.50 (£5.50 concessions). Advance tickets may be purchased from Billetto, or direct from the Museum by calling 020 7840 2200 in office hours.