by George Jobson

May 12, 2001

"Before Night Falls" is a choppy but thoughtful drama, based on the life of Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas. The film is based on the memiors written by Arenas. The film tells the story of Arenas (played by Oscar nominee for best Actor Javier Bardem) how he became a writer and how his homosexuality got him in trouble with the Cuban Grovernment under Castro.

Julian Schnabel directed this film which protrayed Arenas as a troubled writer who is always in trouble with the government for his writings as well as his homosexuality. His writngs were censored and he had to published them in Paris.

This movie is one man's struggle against overwhiming odds. His struggles are felt by the audience, which makes "Before Night Falls" an even more important movie to see.