The Cuban Revolution in the late 1950s is often looked at with reverence by those with left-wing (whether revolutionary or socialist) tendencies. It made cult heroes out of Fidel Castro and especially Ernesto "Che" Guevara, and rightly so in many respects. However, it must be remembered that there are two sides to any story, and this is as true in the political arena as it is anywhere. Every regime has its dark side.
This movie is the life story of a Cuban, Reinaldo Arenas (Javier Bardem), whose life could not have been more affected by the Castro regime. Growing up while Cuba shifted slowly between heads of state, fate was not to be kind to him. He would be a writer - which was not seen as revolutionary. Anyone not with the revolution was considered against it; Capitalism was blamed for all the world's evils. Ironic, since at more or less the same time, America was saying the same thing about Communism.
He was also homosexual. Neither was to put him in good stead with the authorities - it lead to imprisonment, violence and untimately, exile to the US. Having to keep both hidden, he had to resort to having his books smuggled from the country and published elsewhere - which also got him into trouble.
A picture is painted of a man who is simply trying to make a life for himself by legitiamte means, but is thwarted by those who simply don't share his fondness for the things he likes. Despite this, he soldiers on, intent on ensuring that he doesn't let the bastards grind him down. Good man.
It's a quite slow-moving picture, and a melancholic one. The highlights for me (and this will surprise none of you) were the two roles played by Johnny Depp. One is a transvestite with a SCARILY pert bottom, the other a Cuban soldier with a bit of a Freddie Mercury look about him. It has been rumoured that Depp is to play Freddie Mercury in an upcoming biopic - a good choice, it would seem.
Rating out of 5:
Carl B Harrison
Re: Before Night Falls
oddbodd wrote:
The highlights for me (and this will surprise none of you) were the two roles played by Johnny Depp. One is a transvestite with a SCARILY pert bottom, the other a Cuban soldier with a bit of a Freddie Mercury look about him. It has been rumoured that Depp is to play Freddie Mercury in an upcoming biopic - a good choice, it would seem.
I see what you mean 
