Episodic look at the life of Cuban poet and novelist, Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990), from his childhood in Oriente province to his death in New York City. He joins Castro’s rebels. By 1964, he is in Havana. He meets the wealthy Pepe, an early lover; a love-hate relationship lasts for years. Openly gay behavior is a way to spite the government. His writing and homosexuality get him into trouble: he spends two years in prison, writing letters for other inmates and smuggling out a novel. He befriends Lázaro Gomes Garriles, with whom he lives stateless and in poverty in Manhattan after leaving Cuba in the Mariel boat-lift. When asked why he writes, he replies cheerfully,
Before Night Falls is a 2000 American biographical romantic drama directed by Julian Schnabel. Based on the autobiography of the same name of Reinaldo Arenas, which was published in English in 1993, the screenplay was written by Schnabel, Cunningham O’Keefe and Lázaro Gómez Carriles. The film stars Javier Bardem (who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor), Johnny Depp, Olivier Martinez, Andrea Di Stefano, Santiago Magill and Michael Wincott. The film had its world premiere at the 2000 Venice International Film Festival.
The film opened in eight venues on December 22, 2000, and earned $85,230 in its first weekend, ranking #34 in the North American box office. The film received a wide release on February 23, 2001. Before Night Falls grossed $4.2 million in the US and $4.3 million overseas for a worldwide total of $8.5 million from an estimated $20 million budget.
Before Night Falls (2001)
Directed by: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Javier Bardem, Olivier Martinez, Johnny Depp, Héctor Babenco, Batan Silva, Carmen Beato, Olmo Schnabel, Vito Schnabel, Lia Chapman, Sean Penn, Ewa Piaskowska
Screenplay by: Cunningham O’Keefe, Lázaro Gómez Carriles, Julian Schnabel
Production Design by: Salvador Parra
Cinematography by: Xavier Grobe, Guillermo Rosas
Film Editing by: Michael Berenbaum
Costume Design by: María Estela Fernández
Set Decoration by: Laurie Friedman
Art Direction by: Antonio Muño-Hierro
Music by: Carter Burwell
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, some language and brief violence.
Distributed by: Fine Line Features
Release Date: February 23, 2001
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