Directed by:
Hector BabencoScreenplay:
Leonard SchraderCast:
William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sônia Braga, José Lewgoy, Milton Gonçalves, Luiz Serra, Wilson Grey, Fernando Torres, Sergio Kato, Antônio Petrin, Miguel FalabellaPlots(1)
When activist Valentin (Raul Julia) is tossed in a cell, already beaten and tortured by prison guards anxious to get information out of him, he ends up sharing the space with Molina (William Hurt), a homosexual deeply engaged with popular culture--especially the movies. The two men have widely divergent views of life: while the leftist Valentin strives to bring forth a revolution, Molina buries himself in elaborate fantasies taken directly from the cinema. In particular, he relates two fanciful narratives--one a Nazi melodrama, the other an escapist fable about a glamorous "spider woman" (Sonia Braga), harkening back to the glory days of film noir and murderous femme fatales. The impatient and dedicated Valentin tries to raise his cellmate's conscience, and gradually the two men come together and, in a stunning and shocking conclusion, each one truly learns to put himself in the other's place. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Academy Awards
- 1986 - William Hurt (Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role)
- 1986 - Best Motion Picture of the Year
- 1986 - Hector Babenco (Best Achievement in Directing)
- 1986 - Leonard Schrader (Best Adapted Screenplay)
Independent Spirit Awards
- 1986 - Special Distinction Award
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
- 1986 - William Hurt (Best Leading Actor)
Amanda Awards
- 1986 - Hector Babenco (Best Foreign Feature Film Imported for Screening in Norwegian Cinemas)
Golden Globes
- 1986 - Best Motion Picture – Drama
- 1986 - William Hurt (Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama)
- 1986 - Raul Julia (Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama)
- 1986 - Sônia Braga (Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
- 1985 - William Hurt (Best Actor)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
- 1985 - William Hurt (Best Actor)
Cannes Film Festival
- 1985 - William Hurt (Best Actor)
- 1985 - Hector Babenco (Golden Palm - Official Competition)
Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund
- 1985 - Hector Babenco (The Norwegian Critics Award)