| Release Date: | Jul 2001 |
|---|---|
| Genre: | Drama |
| Awards: | Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 9 nominations |
| Cast: | William Hurt (Luis Molina), Raul Julia (Valentin Arregui), Sonia Braga (Leni Lamaison / Marta / Spider Woman), José Lewgoy (Warden), Milton Gonçalves (Secret Policeman), Míriam Pires (Mother (as Miriam Pires)), Nuno Leal Maia (Gabriel), Fernando Torres (Americo), Patricio Bisso (Greta), Herson Capri (Werner), Denise Dumont (Michele (as Denise Dummont)), Nildo Parente (Leader of Resistance), Antônio Petrin (Clubfoot (as Antonio Petrin)), Wilson Grey (Flunky), Miguel Falabella (Lieutenant), Walter Breda (Agent #1), Luis Guilherme (Agent #2), Walmir Barros (Agent #3), Luiz Serra (Prison Doctor (as Luis Serra)), Ana Maria Braga (Lidia), Benjamin Cattan (Molina's Friend), Oswaldo Barreto (Molina's Friend), Sergio Bright (Molina's Friend), Claudio Curi (Molina's Friend), Lineu Dias (Bank Cashier), Joe Kantor (Judge), Luis Roberto Galizia (Nurse), Pericles Campos (Prison Guard), Edmilson Santos (Prison Guard), Walter Vicca (Prison Guard), Ken Kaneko (Prison Guard (as Kenichi Kaneko)), Geogers Schlesinger (Jewish Smuggler), Carlos Fariello (Jewish Smuggler), Frederico Botelho (Jewish Smuggler), Sylvio Band (Rabbi), Paulo Ludmer (Rabbi), Elvira Bisso (Maid) |
Valentin Arregui and Luis Molina are unlikely cell mates in a Latin American prison. Valentin, a journalist, is a political prisoner who was working for a leftist anti-government revolutionary group. While in prison, he is frequently tortured in order to cough up information on those with whom he is working. That includes the new prisoner in the cell across the block from his. Valentin has yet to provide the authorities with any useful information. Molina, a stereotypically gay window dresser, is imprisoned on morals charges: having homosexual sex with a minor. He states that he has no political affiliations. To pass the time, Molina recounts aloud story-lines from his favorite movies, usually those of a romantic nature. The current movie of which he is telling is a wartime romantic thriller, which in reality is a World War II Nazi propaganda film, about which he doesn't care as he focuses on the romance part of the story. Because of the reason for his imprisonment, Valentin doesn't much like that Molina is telling a story produced by a repressive regime, but gets caught up in Molina's story-telling regardless. The unlikely cell mates form an equally unlikely friendship based on their mutual support for each other. Molina later admits that he has fallen in love with Valentin. What Valentin does not know is that Molina has been co-opted by the prison warden and the secret police to befriend Valentin so that he can get information on and report back to them about the leftist group with which Valentin is working. Molina's reward is early parole. The question becomes on whose side is Molina really supporting if either.