The article critiques the recent film adaptation of Manuel Puig's novel "El beso de la mujer araña," a cornerstone of 20th-century Argentine literature. It reflects on director Alfred Hitchcock's perspective on adaptations, which posited that effective cinematic translations often emerge from mediocre literature. This raises the question of what happens when a film is based on a text that is already considered a masterpiece. The author suggests that adapting such a perfect work poses significant challenges and potentially fails to capture the essence that made the original text so impactful.

The piece further explores the difficulty filmmakers face when transforming rich literary narratives into a different medium while trying to maintain both the integrity and the emotional depth of the source material. In this context, the adaptation is analyzed not just on its own merits, but also against the formidable legacy of Puig's novel, which continues to resonate within and beyond Argentine literary circles. The author expresses cynicism about whether a film can effectively convey the themes and intricacies of Puig's work, hence questioning the overall value and justice delivered by this adaptation.

Ultimately, the article suggests that, while adaptations can bring stories to new audiences, they must tread carefully to avoid diminishing the original's brilliance. The adaptation of "El beso de la mujer araña" is portrayed as a tribute that may fall short of doing justice to the profound emotional and intellectual landscapes Puig's work offers, leaving audiences grappling with the complexities inherent in translating literature into film.