Originally released as motion picture in 2000.

Based on the memoir Before night falls (Antes que anochezca) by Reinaldo Arenas.

Before Night Falls is Cuban novelist and poet Reinaldo Arenas' account of his life, first in Castro's Cuba and then in exile, in the United States. Its power is two-fold: it's an intoxicating, intensely erotic account of sexual discovery and liberation, and a devastating record of the artist's persecution under the Castro regime. Arenas endured pursuit, surveillance, and incarceration because he was a gay man and a political dissident (not by his writings per se, but by virtue of having manuscripts smuggled and published abroad). In his memoir, Arenas recalls in exacting detail his childhood full of sexual curiosity, his adolescent rebellions, sexual experiences and creative developments during his 20s, and his torture and imprisonment as an adult. Arenas' story seems almost too much to be lived by a single man. When he finally left Cuba during the 1980 Mariel Harbor boatlift, Arenas stopped briefly in Miami and then moved to New York City, where he still lived in near-poverty and before long, developed AIDS. He committed suicide in 1990.

Special features: Commentary with director Julian Schnabel, actor Javier Bardem, screenwriter Lázaro Gómez Carilles, composer Carter Burwell, and co-director of photography Xavier Pérez Grobet [optional audio feature]; Excerpts from "Improper conduct," 1983 interview with Reinaldo Arenas (7 min.); Behind the scenes: Home movie by Lola Schnabel [featurette] (8 min.); Little notes on painting: Artwork by Julian Schnabel (15 min.); Cast and crew [text feature]; Theatrical trailer (2 min).

"For Lázaro Gómez Carriles."--Note during end credits.

"[Film sequence during] end credits from the film 'PM' by Orlando Jiménez Leal and Saba Cabrera, banned in Cuba in 1961"--Note during end credits.

Directors of photography, Xavier Pérez Grobet, Guillermo Rosas ; editor, Michael Berenbaum ; music composed, orchestrated and conducted by Carter Burwell ; production designer, Salvador Parra ; costume designer, Mariestela Fernández ; consultant, Melanio Filiberto Hebra.

Javier Bardem, Olivier Martinez, Andrea Di Stefano, Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, John Ortiz, Santiago Magill, Michael Wincott, Najwa Nimri, Alfredo Villa, Rene Rivera, Maurice Compte, Vincent Laresca, Manuel Gonzalez, Hector Babenco.

"A look at the life of Cuban author Reinaldo Arenas, from childhood in Cuba to his death in New York City. His writings and homosexuality get him in trouble with Castro's Cuba and he spends two years in prison before leaving for the United States. Victimized by a government that banned his books and jailed him for a crime he didn't commit, [poet] Reinaldo [Arenas] endured unspeakable persecution in a courageous stand against censorship and oppression. Without a country, but not without integrity, he fled to America where he continued to fight for personal expression and produced a stirring body of work."--Container.

MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong sexual content, some language and brief violence.

DVD; NTSC, region 1; widescreen presentation preserving the 1.85:1 aspect ratio of the original theatrical exhibition, enhanced for widescreen televisions; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo.

In English or Spanish and a small section in French with optional subtitles in English, Spanish, or French; closed-captioned in English.

Independent Spirit Award, 2001, Best Male Lead (Bardem); NBR Award, 2000, Best Actor (Bardem); NSFC Award, 2001, Best Actor (Bardem); SEFCA Award, 2001, Best Actor (Bardem).

Venice Film Festival, 2000, Grand Special Jury Prize (Schnabel); OCIC Award, Special Mention (Schnabel); Rota Soundtrack Award (Carter Burwell); Volpi Cup, Best Actor (Bardem).