A prison cell in a Latin American country under dictatorship unites two seemingly incompatible cellmates: Valentin, a left-wing political prisoner (Raul Julia), and Luis, a gay window dresser (Hurt) whose entertaining recountings of Hollyood B-movie plots eventually softens his cellmate’s hostility. Based on Manuel Puig’s widely acclaimed novel of the same name, the film mixes flashback and fantasy with the compelling prison drama, ultimately relying on the electrifying chemistry between the principal actors for its considerable dramatic impact.