Unveiling Emotion: Bill Condon and Jennifer Lopez Bring ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ to Life at Sundance

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — A big, glamorous musical isn’t what you usually see at the Sundance Film Festival. But that’s exactly what Bill Condon brought to Park City with his new take on “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” featuring the talented Jennifer Lopez.

During the screening, the audience couldn’t help but clap for Lopez’s lively song and dance performances. She portrays a classic Hollywood starlet in a film within the film. After the show, the packed crowd at the Eccles Theater gave her a standing ovation, especially stunning in a sparkly dress inspired by spider webs.

Lopez expressed her excitement, saying, “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life.”

The story focuses on two cellmates in an Argentine prison and is based on a novel by Manuel Puig from 1976. It has had several adaptations, including a film in 1985 that earned William Hurt an Oscar. The stage version won numerous Tony Awards on Broadway.

Condon wrote and directed this fresh adaptation, which is currently looking for a distributor. Diego Luna plays Valentin, a revolutionary in prison. His new cellmate, Luis Molina (played by Tonatiuh), loves movies and shares tales of a favorite film musical, giving both men a spark of hope amid their harsh surroundings.

While there are dazzling musical moments, the film also addresses important themes like gender identity. Molina reveals to Valentin that they identify outside the traditional boundaries of male and female. Initially, Valentin is baffled, but gradually he begins to understand Molina’s perspective.

Before the screening, Condon shared that the film explores bridging the gaps between people. He made a point about differing views on gender, expressing a desire for a more inclusive conversation. “That’s a sentiment I think you’ll see that the movie has a different point of view on,” explained Condon.

After the show, discussions about gender identity continued. Tonatiuh spoke about the challenges of growing up as a “femme queer Latin kid” in a culture that often doesn’t celebrate such identities. He said, “When I got this material, I knew this person spiritually. I understood someone who felt like a loser in their own life and learns how to be the hero of their own story.”

Everyone seemed thrilled to be part of a genuine movie musical. Condon remarked, “I did write that line, ‘I pity people who hate musicals.’ All the magic of movies can come alive in a musical.”

Lopez shared her inspiration for performing, recalling how watching “West Side Story” every Thanksgiving sparked her passion. Through tears, she thanked Condon, calling him the one who “made my dreams come true.”