Director Julian Schnabel's award winning biopic Before Night Falls details the life of exiled Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas. Javier Bardem was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Arenas.
Plot Summary
Before Night Falls details nearly 40 years in the life of Reinaldo Arenas, from his impoverished upbringing, through his university education, during which he learns to express both his creative voice and homosexual tendencies. Under Fidel Castro's communist regime, Arenas is persecuted and later jailed for expressing his opinions and being openly gay. After his release from prison, Arenas flees to the United States, where he struggles to achieve literary success and eventually commits suicide after battling AIDS for several years.
Cast
- Javier Bardem: Reinaldo Arenas
- Johnny Depp: Lieutenant Victor/Bon Bon
- Andrea Di Stefano: Pepe Malas
- Sean Penn: Cuco Sanchez
- Michael Wincott: Herberto Zorilla Ochoa
- Najwa Nimri: Fina Zorilla Correa
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
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Release date
December 22, 2000
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Director
Julian Schnabel
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Screenwriter
Cunningham O'Keefe, Lazaro Gomez Carriles
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Producer
Jon Kilik
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Distributor
Fine Line Features
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Music by
Carter Burwell
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Language
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MPAA rating
R
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Run time
133 minutes
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Worldwide box office gross
