Masterclasses

For full information, please see the Dutch section of the website. Out of the 4 masterclasses, only the following one will be English spoken.

Kiss of the Spider Woman

the (de)construction of identity dualisms & film Kiss of the Spider Woman

Wednesday 14 May, 15.00 - 18.00
Public college Portuguese Language  and Culture
Lecturer: Paula Jordão
Entry:  € 10, -
English spoken

In his second film, Kiss of the Spider Woman (1984), Héctor Babenco seems to give again particular attention to issues that deal with social marginalization, as it was already the case in Pixote – A lei do mais fraco (1981). In an adaptation of the novel written by the Argentinean writer Manuel Puig El beso de la mujer araña (1976), the film tells about the relationship between a political prisoner (Valentín Arriega) and a homosexual (Luís Molina) in a Brazilian prison, during the dictatorship of the sixties and seventies.

The film has often been criticized for its somewhat controversial approach of homosexuality, political engagement and activity that reproduces cultural stereotypes already existent in the Brazilian patriarchal and dictatorial society of that time. However, a closer look to it may reveal us the questioning and even the subversion of those stereotypes and their ideological context.

Kiss of the Spider Woman
Brazilië / VS (1984), 120’, Engels gesproken, Nederlands ondertiteld

Oscar winning film about Luis Molina and Valentin Arreguí, cell mates in a South American prison. Luis, a flamboyant homosexual, is found guilty of immoral behaviour and Valentin is a political prisoner, who has been tortured terribly. Luis invents romantic films in an attempt to escape reality. The disciplined intellectual activist Valentín on the other hand stubbornly tries to keep his mind on the situation he’s in. During the time they spend together, the two men come to understand and respect one another.