The story of two radically different men thrown together in a Latin American prison cell. One is Valentin, a journalist being tortured for his political beliefs. The other is Molina, a gay window-dresser who fills their lonely nights by spinning romantic fantasies drawn from memories of old movies.
Directed by Héctor Babenco
prison
based on novel or book
politics
homophobia
male homosexuality
torture
lgbt
gay theme
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.7 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
William Hurt
Luis Molina
Raúl Juliá
Valentin Arregui
Sonia Braga
Leni Lamaison / Marta / Spider Woman
José Lewgoy
Warden
Milton Gonçalves
Pedro
Miriam Pires
Mother
Nuno Leal Maia
Gabriel
Fernando Torres
Americo
Herson Capri
Werner
Denise Dumont
Michele
Nildo Parente
Leader of Resistance
Antônio Petrin
Clubfoot
Crew
Héctor Babenco
Director
Leonard Schrader
Screenplay
Manuel Puig
Novel
Lee Percy
Additional Editing
Burt Lancaster
Thanks
Alberto Gieco
Script Supervisor
Popular Reviews
91 reviews
Éomer Marrero
9.0★ · 05/11/26
The performances in this film from Raúl Juliá and William Hurt kept me invested the entire time. Every time the film would go into the movie within a movie, I lowkey got disappointed cause I wanted more from the 2 leads. Still a phenomenal film. Loved it
The performances in this film from Raúl Juliá and William Hurt kept me invested the entire time. Every time the film would go into the movie within a movie, I lowkey got disappointed cause I wanted more from the 2 leads. Still a phenomenal film. Loved it
Emma
9.0★ · 02/15/26
And they were cellmates (William Hurt carried this movie on his back)
And they were cellmates (William Hurt carried this movie on his back)
Kyle Walton
8.0★ · 02/15/26
Escapism is both impossible and necessary when the world is as it is.
Escapism is both impossible and necessary when the world is as it is.
LM
8.0★ · 02/06/26
Ofcourse, talking about films is what could only keep you from going insane.
Ofcourse, talking about films is what could only keep you from going insane.
