‘I Feel Like This Is Such A Nuanced Conversation.’ Kiss Of The Spider-Woman Star And Director Open Up About Molina’s Identity In The New Movie Musical

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Several movie musicals have won the Best Picture Oscar over the years, and this year’s contenders to continue that streak include *Wicked: For Good* and *Kiss of the Spider Woman*. *Kiss of the Spider Woman* is based on both a novel and a successful stage musical. The film features a touching love story between two men, and director Bill Condon and actor Tonatiuh recently discussed the portrayal of the main character, Molina, in an interview with TopMob.

*Kiss of the Spider Woman* is a film that appeals even to those who don’t typically enjoy musicals, while also offering a powerful story of acceptance and queer love set in an Argentine prison during the 1980s. The film strongly suggests that the character Molina is transgender, and in the accompanying video, I discuss this interpretation with the film’s lead actor and director. Director Condon explains his perspective on Molina’s identity, stating:

He’s almost like a precursor to being transgender, because while he desires to transition, he doesn’t seem to be actively going through that internal process yet – he lacks the resources or means to do so. This is directly reflected in the dialogue, which is taken word-for-word from the original novel.

The film *Kiss of the Spider Woman* never explicitly mentions the word “transgender.” However, Molina’s character frequently discusses and celebrates what it’s like to be a woman, particularly in the song “She’s a Woman.” The film strongly suggests he may have identified as a trans woman, though that concept wasn’t commonly understood or discussed at the time the story takes place.

Bill Condon, the director of *Kiss of the Spider Woman*, was hesitant to label the character Molina as transgender, but the way the character understood their own identity in the original novel – and how that resonates with today’s understanding – was a major factor in his decision to adapt it into a film. As Condon explained further:

That explained why a musical adaptation was so important. I love movie musicals, but this project is really about staying true to Manuel Puig’s original story from 49 years ago, something previous adaptations haven’t fully achieved.

The portrayal of Molina’s gender and sexuality changes depending on which version of *Kiss of the Spider Woman* you watch. Modern viewers like myself might interpret the character as transgender, but director Bill Condon intentionally used lines directly from the original book.

The actor who played Molina naturally had his own thoughts on the matter. I asked Tonatiuh about the idea of the film’s main character being a transgender woman, and he shared a well-considered response, explaining:

It’s a really delicate topic, and I’ve been thinking a lot about how far we’ve come. Our understanding of gender and sexuality is so much more developed now than it was back in the 1980s, which is amazing. What I’ve gathered from the discussions is that the challenge was figuring out how to acknowledge that progress while still respecting what life was like for people in Argentina at that time. It’s about balancing where we are now with honoring their past experiences.

Tonatiuh not only filmed dance scenes with Jennifer Lopez, but also collaborated closely with the director on the story for the new *Kiss of the Spider Woman*. Considering their working relationship, they likely anticipated the conversations and discussions the film would spark upon its release.

Later on in our discussion, the actor from *Vida* shared his thoughts on Molina’s character in the film. He said:

I don’t think Molina experiences gender dysphoria or body dysmorphia; they seem quite comfortable with who they are. However, they understandably don’t want to be dismissed or treated as incorrect by society. Perhaps if this were happening today, they might identify as gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or even transgender. But at that time, it seemed all they wanted was to be loved and treated with respect.

You’re right. Although modern LGBTQ+ representation helps us understand Molina now, the director didn’t have that advantage when making *Kiss of the Spider Woman*. He focused on portraying a person struggling for love and respect while being held captive by a repressive regime. However, many LGBTQ+ viewers will probably connect with a story that feels relevant to transgender or non-binary experiences.

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2025-10-14 22:13