拉丁美洲某国的监狱里,同性恋猥亵犯莫利纳(William Hurt 饰)与革命组织领导人瓦伦丁(Raul Julia 饰)共处一室,闲暇时莫利纳讲述一部电影的剧情聊以解闷,这部老电影中包含的纳粹观点让瓦伦丁明显不适,但随着两人的相处,瓦伦丁渐渐理解了莫利纳的立场。由于瓦伦丁身份特殊,狱方暂停对他的拷打,改为用旁敲侧击的方式套取情报,而莫利纳也是他们计划中的一环,这段时间里,莫利纳同狱方周旋获得些许好处,并最终让自己离开了监狱,被释放前莫利纳借蜘蛛女的故事表白了心迹,同时也将自己推入危险的边缘…… 本片获1985年戛纳电影节最佳男演员奖,1986年奥斯卡最佳男主角奖,英国电影学院奖最佳导演奖等多项专业褒奖。根据曼努·艾尔普伊格的同名小说改编。Luis Molina and Valentin Arregui are cell mates in a South American prison. Luis, a trans individual, is found guilty of immoral behavior and Valentin is a political prisoner. To escape reality Luis invents romantic movies, while Valentin tries to keep his mind on the situation he's in. During the time they spend together, the two men come to understand and respect one another.