In 1985, Brazil caused a shock in the world film scene with a seemingly unremarkable film "The Kiss of Spider-Woman". The actor William Hurt won the Oscar for the actor of the year, which made the film well-deserved. Land left a page in the history of film. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by the famous Brazilian writer Puig by Leonard Schrader. In the process of adaptation, the author made a lot of deletions from the original work, but retained its unique narrative style. The plot of the original book runs through seven or eight movie stories such as "Leopard Girl", "French Showgirl", "My Letter", "Zombie Girl", and "Infatuated Girl" narrated by the hero Molina. The audience's, or nervous and scary, or absurd and bizarre, or sweet and warm story, only used the story of "French Singer". Because the heroine of the play can best identify the gay hero Molina in the film, and her fate also indicates his tragic fate, entangled and unable to get rid of it, just as he describes himself as the "Spider Woman" . In this way, reality and "story" are closely linked, echo each other, and become an organic whole. This film with a unique perspective always retains the strong literary features of the original work. It does not pursue an external dramatic plot, does not use various film language methods, and does not use sophisticated photography techniques and fast-paced scene switching to explain The original literary work does not even have spectacular scenes. The main feature of the film is only confined to a damp and cramped prison cell in a certain Latin American country (the original novel actually refers to Argentina). The intentions of the directors are very obvious. They focus on the display of the character's psychology and inner emotions. All external "techniques" will interfere with the audience's feelings and even disrupt the thoughts of the protagonist of the film. This respect for the original and the respect for the film's two independent personalities with completely different political beliefs and attitudes deepens the film's social criticism and makes this film occupy a unique position in the history of film.
This is undoubtedly witty. It also shows the high degree of self-confidence and respect for life of the directors. They are convinced that two people, like Molina and Valentine, who have completely different or opposed thoughts, personalities, experiences, and psychological states, are held in the same cell. This kind of contradictory co-location is itself a "drama" that can capture the audience, so they let it develop as a matter of course without any subjective intervention. Molina and Valentin did not debate politics, philosophy or other "sensitive issues" from beginning to end. They only used the "film stories" told by Molina and the "film stories" he composed to reveal the worldview and life of the characters. Contradictions, differences and conflicts of views. All this seems unusually calm, but it can attract the audience tightly. On the one hand, Molina has a "special mission" confessed by the prison authorities, which makes the contradictions in the film extremely complex and dramatic. However, the director has always used a simple and straightforward method, just like Molina's "movie story", slowly telling it, and making it sound and beautiful, no one can guess this seemingly plain double layer Stories (that is, movies and "movies in movies") actually contain extremely serious themes and great passions. At first, the film looked like a series of Hollywood clichés (such as the boring temptation of homosexuals, the affectionate attitude of singers), but later it became a moving work full of masculine beauty, heroism and true love. The film accurately shows the gradual deepening of understanding and friendship between the two men. Even the women appearing in several stories, memories, or fantasy in the film, are also aimed at revealing the deep psychology of the two men. This kind of warmth eased the conflict of thoughts between them, and also made it easy for them to connect their fate. This delicate display process brought a strong suspense factor because Molina might inform the prison at any time.
From the perspective of film composition, "The Kiss of Spider-Woman" is unique. At the beginning of the film, the camera slowly swayed from the window of the cell. The iron windows, the female celebrities on the wall, the feminine nightgowns, and the red scarf wrapped around Molina's head appeared. This process is always accompanied by Molina's slow and sweet "French showgirl" story. This shot laid the narrative rhythm and style of the whole film, and firmly grasped the audience. Immediately afterwards, the film used the film story of "play in play" to set another time and space with a single-tone warm brown. Therefore, reality and fantasy, main play and play in play were clearly and cleverly blended into one. . This method takes the audience smoothly and without dullness, enters the character, and at the same time enters the spiritual realm that the creator wants you to enter. This is not to watch a scene calmly, but to feel a life and experience a spiritual world. This method runs through the film. It is difficult for the audience to jump out to pay attention to the composition of the shot, light processing, character performance, etc. This reflects the profound overall grasping ability of director Hector Babon. This film has a very serious theme, but it is by no means a film in the political sense. Although the film does not exclude political criticism, such as the torture of political prisoners and the inhumane treatment of prisoners, including food poisoning Wait for the disclosure of crimes. It shows people's strong pursuit of freedom, justice, and love under totalitarian rule. It does not make judgments of merits and demerits on specific issues such as politics, ideology, and morality. It only uses these issues to portray people, show people's psychological processes, and achieve a certain understanding. Therefore, this kind of film is a film that explores and understands people. Molina did not change Valentine, nor did Valentine change Molina, but they all changed themselves unknowingly.
Director Baben has attracted the attention of critics since he directed "Pershot" in 1980. Some people call him the heir of neo-realistic films. "The Kiss of the Spider-Woman" was filmed for four years, and Baconn said: "This is looking for things that are impossible to find, and trying to turn things that don't exist into reality." His interpretation can be seen in the film. Every character in the world is embodied, so we see a group of people who are both real and fantasy, but after all, they are striving for and moving toward their goals and ideals. Fortunately, whether Babecine or Molina and Valentine in his film, their search has been understood by more and more people in the world.
The screenwriter Leonard Schreider called Babeng a poet who sang the poor and the wandering. Baben once talked about the connection between his film and real politics. He said that "Pershot" "is a work I shot from my heart. There are 3 million homeless children in Brazil. I can't ignore the fact that there is such a huge suffering." He is a socially responsible director. He said: "Movies are my lifeline" and use his films to criticize the unjust reality. Regarding Molina and Valentine, Baben said: “These two characters are part of me, and I can feel their alternate growth in myself.” It can be seen that he can compare the two diametrically opposites. The co-location of the characters and the gradual acquisition of new harmony are based on their inner heart. Regarding the style of the film, Babek said: "The film as a component requires you to do two things: show how the film manipulates and controls the world. Exaggerated expressions can be used, so the film can be stylized and true at the same time. of."
Actor William Hurt was a dancer in his early years. His good physical quality and ability to grasp the rhythm of movements made him successfully portray Molina, a gay with a complicated personality and a weird heart. His good physical control has greatly enhanced the credibility of the characters. He won the Cannes and Oscar awards for best actor is also well-deserved.
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