Before Night Falls

THE GIST: The life of Cuban poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas, from his poor childhood, to his support for the Castro revolution; from being jailed by the Castro regime for his writings and his open homosexuality, to his daring escape to New York City, where he finds freedom and love, but also becomes a drug addict.

Before Night Falls is a biographical drama about the life of this poet whom I did not know before.

I picked it up for the gay themes but also because Javier Bardem was nominated for a Best Lead Actor for his unforgettable performance.

The vast ensemble also includes Diego Luna, Sean Penn, Olivier Martinez, John Ortiz, and Johnny Depp.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Come for the great performance, stay for the heartbreaking story of this very talented man and the injustices he had to endure, which fortunately never really broke his fighting spirit.

Grade: 7