Before Night Falls MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -3 1/2

BEFORE NIGHT FALLS journeys into the writings and life of Cuban author Reinaldo Arenas (Javier Bardem). Growing up under the umbrella of Castros revolutionary movement, the young Arenas joins the revolution for a time, but eventually moves in a different direction. After the revolution, he could write more often and work in Havanas national library. However, as Arenas gains prominence as a young writer, the government begins to crack down on artists and homosexuals. The government censors his works, which leaves him no choice but to smuggle them out of Cuba for publishing in Europe. Due to his smuggling and homosexual lifestyle, Arenas is constantly harassed by government forces and often in prison. Accepting exile when Castro allows homosexuals and mental patients to leave Cuba, Reinaldo settles into life in New York after 37 long years of oppression. Bardems performance in the film is nothing short of magnificent. Poetic dialogue combined with the tragic life of Arenas set an intriguing backdrop. A celebration of the artistic spirit, BEFORE NIGHT FALLS should thrive on the art house circuit.

The film does an excellent job of contrasting pre-Castro Cuba with the effects of the revolution. After Castro is raised to power, Cuba becomes a different place and simple freedoms are hard to come by. The level of oppression and harassment that people like Bardem suffer is, at times, difficult to watch. One reason for Bardems persecution is his homosexuality, and the film leaves no doubt about Arenas sexual preference. Nearly every scene features some kind of homosexual image, ranging from effeminate behavior to frank statements about homosexual sex to one brief, graphic homosexual sex act without nudity. Johnny Depp takes on a dual role as both a government officer and a transvestite homosexual. One scene portrays a female prostitute performing an unconventional act on young teen Arenas. In addition, full male frontal nudity occurs a few times in the film. Although it avoids graphic violence and limits foul language, explicit male nudity and graphic portrayal of homosexual acts warrants a strong negative rating.

Preview Reviewer: John Adair
Distributor: Fine Line Features, 888 7th Ave., 20th Floor, New York, NY 10106