Out and proud New Yorker Bill Condon has written and directed a love letter to music lovers with the film version of Kiss of the Spider Woman. Condon has previous experience directing big screen musicals such as Chicago, Dreamgirls and The Beauty and the Beast.
The plot is similar to the 1985 cinematic endeavor starring William Hurt, Raúl Julia and Sonia Braga, which was based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Argentine author Manuel Puig.
The plot revolves around two cellmates, a window dresser named Luis Alberto Molina and an activist by the name of Valentin Arregui Paz. This odd couple learn to set aside their differences and escape their bleak surroundings in an Argentinian prison through a series of stories told by Molina. His novella-style storytelling transports them to a fantasyland full of light romance, mysterious intrigue and whimsical musical numbers.
The original musical was brought to life by two gay men, legendary writer Terrence McNally and lyricist Fred Edd. The film is dedicated to them, as well as the 1993 Best Actress Tony Award winner for her leading Spider Woman role, Chita Rivera. Rivera had signed on to appear in the film adaptation but passed away on Jan. 30, 2024.
A trio of talented cast members convey this tale in 2025, including the triple threat of actress, dancer and singer Jennifer Lopez, who portrayed the three roles of Ingrid Luna, Aurora and The Spider Woman. At a conference call the week of the film’s upcoming theatrical release, Lopez said she has always wanted to do a musical, and that her favorite one is West Side Story.
Diego Luna (Valentin Arregui/Armando) and Tonatiuh (Luis Molina/Kendall Nesbitt) both admitted in the same conference call that they were intimidated around Lopez during the dance sequences because of her skill level. Diego and Tonatiuh made up for any lack of dance training with adept acting abilities that serve them well in this oppressive setting.
Tonatiuh described the experience as being “invited to the Olympics” while working with the cast and crew. He lost 45 pounds in 50 days for his character’s physicality and triumphed over hundreds of actors to land the coveted role of Luis Molina. The openly queer performer answered Windy City Times’s question about his character’s inspiration by saying, “I got to play the totality of the gender spectrum in a film and that was such a gift. It is quite touching how the film centers on the dignity of the Latin and LGBTQIA community. In terms of modeling it after somebody, I instantly thought of Montgomery Clift in The Heiress for Kendall Nesbitt. I also looked at Gene Kelly and Errol Flynn. I tried to steal his hair because that hairline was iconic. Molina wasn’t based on anything, but I allowed the essence to come through.”
Lopez answered WCT’s question about the effective costuming she wore and explained it was a collaborative effort between her and designer Colleen Atwood. She confessed, “The costumes were a big part of understanding the character and making her reality come to life.”
Jennifer is known for being a fierce businesswoman and put her money where her mouth was for this specific undertaking,aided by her Nuyorican Productions team. Other well-known celebrities Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were also attached as executive producers, along with Luna.
Newcomer Tonatiuh not only served as the narrator but also as a human spirit that many people will know or identify with who is suffering from a dire situation. As Molina, his mind is distracted in a classic MGM retro musical while he battles horrific conditions and fights for survival under authoritarian control.
The characters convey the heavy material through dark and gritty scenes, then they are catapulted to brilliant sets and songs for special sequences. While some songs have been cut to keep the two-hour running time, new songs have been added from several of Ebb’s works, such as “I Will Dance Alone,” “Never You” and “An Everyday Man.”
Kiss is a hug of pure escapism that many people need while facing and surviving adversity politically. During the current climate in the United States, it may hit viewers with more impact.
Lopez summed up the heart of Kiss of the Spider Woman during the press call on Oct. 3 by boldly stating, “I feel like the story and message are not done yet. It needs to be told to this generation, and we need to remind people of the humanity of these communities. It’s a story that should keep being told until everyone gets on board with the fact that we are all just people.”
Kiss of the Spider Woman spins into theaters on Oct. 10.