BEFORE NIGHT FALLS (2000) Episodic look at the life of Cuban poet and novelist, Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990), from his childhood in Oriente province to his death in New York City. He joins Castro's rebels. By 1964, he is in Havana. He meets the wealthy Pepe, an early lover; a love-hate relationship lasts for years. Openly gay behavior is a way to spite the government. His writing and homosexuality get him into trouble: he spends two years in prison, writing letters for other inmates and smuggling out a novel. He befriends Lázaro Gomes Garriles, with whom he lives stateless and in poverty in Manhattan after leaving Cuba in the Mariel boat-lift. When asked why he writes, he replies cheerfully, "Revenge."

DIRECTOR:	Julian Schnabel
WRITERS:	Reynaldo Arenas (memoir), Cunningham O'Keefe (Screenplay), Lázaro Gómez Carriles (screenplay), Julian Schnabel (screenplay)
CAST:	Johnny Depp as Bon Bon and Lieutenant Victor Also starring: Javier Bardem, Olivier Martinez, Andrea Di Stefano, Michael Wincott and more.
PRODUCERS:	Matthias Ehrenberg (associate producer), Olatz Lopez Garmendia (executive producer), Jon Kilik (producer), Julian Schnabel (executive producer).