Dressed in a shimmering, web-like dress and towering black heels, Jennifer Lopez held back tears as “Kiss of the Spider Woman” received a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival. She expressed to the audience at Park City’s Eccles Theatre that playing a role in the musical adaptation realized a dream she had cherished for a long time.
“I’ve waited my entire life for this moment,” she said. “The reason I wanted to enter this industry is that my mom would place me in front of the TV, and [‘West Side Story’] would air annually.” I was entranced and thought, ‘That’s what I wish to pursue.’ This is the first occasion I truly had the opportunity to do it. “This person turned my dream into reality.”
She is talking about director Bill Condon, who has emerged as a leading filmmaker in movie musicals, with credits including “Chicago,” “Dreamgirls,” Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” remake, and “The Greatest Showman.” This premiere signifies Condon’s initial return to Sundance since 1998’s historical drama “Gods and Monsters,” featuring Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser.
“I arrived here 27 years back.” “The experience of premiering that film here is something I will always remember,” he stated, noting that “‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ is a project I began contemplating all those years back.” “It’s a film I’ve dreamed of creating my whole life.”
“Kiss of the Spider Woman,” primarily taking place in an Argentinian prison during the “Dirty War,” centers on queer window dresser Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), who is incarcerated for engaging in sexual relations with a man. To flee the terrors of confinement, he entertains his new cellmate, a political detainee named Valentin Arregui (Diego Luna), with colorful tales of the film adventures of his beloved actress, Ingrid Luna (Lopez).
Lopez and Condon were accompanied on stage by Tonatiuh, whereas Luna could not be present because of a family emergency. The movie, among the most talked-about to premiere at this year’s Sundance, is looking for distribution — and many studio and streaming executives were present at the Sunday night debut. The room also had a few superfans of Jenny From the Block.
“I adore you, J.Lo!” one admirer of the “Selena” and “Maid in Manhattan” actress exclaimed during the post-screening Q&A. Lopez responded with a shout: “I adore you, as well!”
This is the second film adaptation of Manuel Puig’s novel after the celebrated 1985 musical directed by Héctor Babenco, which earned an Oscar for William Hurt. A stage adaptation exists as well, featuring music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, along with a book by Terrence McNally. This version debuted on Broadway in 1993 and won seven Tony Awards, including best musical and best performances by Chita Rivera, Brent Carver, and Anthony Crivello.
While the film brims with the dazzling spectacle typical of the Golden Age of the genre, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” also strikes a more pressing political chord. In his introduction to the movie, Condon referenced a statement from President Donald Trump’s inauguration address: “Starting today, it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are just two genders: male and female.”
“That’s a perspective I believe you’ll notice the film presents,” Condon stated to enthusiastic applause from the crowded audience. “Importantly, the key aspect is that we must close these gaps.” In this film, there’s a feeling that love and kindness are the only pathways forward.
“Kiss of the Spider Woman” was initially shown for Sundance consideration the day after Trump’s win, and Condon discloses that there was discussion regarding releasing the film in relation to the election. Nonetheless, the director and producers chose to proceed as intended.
“It became evident that for many years, transgender individuals were being exploited as the newest casualties of the culture conflict.” “It seemed like, regardless of what occurred, this is something we must accept and it isn’t going to disappear,” Condon stated. “And once more, for me, the film’s promise is that, in some way, people can transcend that and view one another as unique individuals.”
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In his first significant film role, Tonatiuh shared his personal reaction to the narrative.
“Having grown up as a feminine, queer Latinx child in a culture that doesn’t always celebrate these identities, I struggled fiercely to make it known to others,” he stated. “However, I was informed that my career would never reach the heights I desired because of that.” “The aspect I battled so hard to appreciate about myself was extinguished.”
That shifted when he received the script for “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and read the role of Luis Molina. “Upon receiving this material, I felt a spiritual connection to this individual.” I connected with someone who felt like a failure in their life and [managed] to become their own hero by finding love.”
