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Before Night Falls

Play trailer Poster for Before Night Falls R 2001 2h 12m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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74% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A richly imagined journey into the life and writings of brilliant Cuban author and exile Reinaldo Arenas. It spans the whole of Arenas' life, from his rural childhood and his early embrace of the Revolution to the persecution he would later experience as a writer and homosexual in Castro's Cuba; from his departure from Cuba in the Mariel Harbor exodus of 1980 to his exile and death in the United States.
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Before Night Falls

Before Night Falls

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Critics Consensus

An impressionistic, fragmented look at Reinaldo Arenas, Before Night Falls' imagery manages to evoke a sense of the writer's artistry, and Bardem's strong performance holds the film together. Finally, a biopic done well.

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Peter Travers Rolling Stone Jun 4, 2001
5/5
In uniting to honor Arenas, Bardem and Schnabel create something extraordinary. Go to Full Review Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Mar 12, 2001
Clearly this is Bardem's show. And Bardem walks away with it. Go to Full Review Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post Feb 23, 2001
It's a struggle not just to make art but to exist, which is itself an art. And to that goal, the cast members, led by the astonishing Bardem, allow themselves to be devoured by the roles they are playing. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 19, 2023
3/4
Before Night Falls places its themes of sexual tolerance and freedom of expression in a context that interestingly emphasizes the activities themselves without ever muting the underlying messages. Go to Full Review Elizabeth Richardson Out Magazine May 27, 2022
Schnabel's heartbreaking movie boasts an Oscar-caliber performance by Javier Bardem as Arenas and a pair of extraordinary cameos by Johnny Depp. Go to Full Review Austin Kennedy Film Geek Central May 10, 2013
1.5/4
This could have been a compelling movie about a wonderful writer, but instead it's a tedious, pointless mess. After spending over 2 hours with Arenas, I still knew nothing about him. Javier Bardem's great performance seemed to be a complete waste. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Before Night Falls

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Cast & Crew

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Julian Schnabel

Director

Javier Bardem

Reinaldo Arenas

Olivier Martinez

Lazaro Gomez Carilles

Andrea Di Stefano

Pepe Malas

Johnny Depp

Bon Bon

Sean Penn

Cuco Sanchez

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Before Night Falls

Director Julian Schnabel on the set of "Before Night Falls." Sean Penn and Vito Maria Schnabel stars in "Before Night Falls." Javier Bardem and Olivier Martinez star in "Before Night Falls." Javier Bardem stars in "Before Night Falls." Olatz Lopez Garmendia stars in "Before Night Falls." Johnny Depp stars in "Before Night Falls." Javier Bardem (left) and Johnny Depp star in "Before Night Falls." Andrea di Stefano (left) and Javier Bardem star in "Before Night Falls." Before Night Falls (2000) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A richly imagined journey into the life and writings of brilliant Cuban author and exile Reinaldo Arenas. It spans the whole of Arenas' life, from his rural childhood and his early embrace of the Revolution to the persecution he would later experience as a writer and homosexual in Castro's Cuba; from his departure from Cuba in the Mariel Harbor exodus of 1980 to his exile and death in the United States.
Director
Julian Schnabel
Producer
Jon Kilik
Screenwriter
Reynaldo Arenas, Lázaro Gómez Carriles, Cunningham O'Keefe, Julian Schnabel
Distributor
Fine Line Features, United King Films, Keyfilms Roma, El Mar Pictures, Lolafilms Distribución, Grandview
Production Co
El Mar Pictures, Grandview Pictures
Rating
R (Some Language|Brief Violence|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 26, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.2M
Runtime
2h 12m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround
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