The Spider's Stratagem (Italian: Strategia del ragno) is a 1970 Italian made-for-television political mystery-drama film written and directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and produced by RAI. The screenplay is based on the 1944 short story Theme of the Traitor and the Hero by Jorge Luis Borges. The film stars Giulio Brogi and Alida Valli, and follows the son of an antifascist martyr who travels to his namesake’s father’s hometown, uncovering secrets of his father’s past in the process.The film was screened at the 31st Venice International Film Festival before premiering on Rai 1 on October 25, 1970, then rebroadcasting on Rai 2 five days later. It received a limited theatrical release in Europe and the United States.