Before night falls [DVD video]

"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.

General Note:

Originally released as motion picture in 2000.

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

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).

Performers:

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.

Contents:

Childhood -- Holguín, 1958 -- "The parade begins" -- Havana, 1964 -- Pepe -- New start -- Beauty is the enemy -- Revolutionaries -- 4 types -- Crackdown -- Article 243 -- Outside help -- Accusations -- Escape -- In hiding -- Prison -- Bon Bon -- Punishment -- Lieutenant Victor -- Free again -- Being a writer -- Pepe's escape -- Exit permit -- Stateless -- Strain -- Promise -- End credits.

Technical Details:

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.

Personal Subject:

Arenas, Reinaldo, 1943-1990-Drama.

Subject Term:

Authors, Cuban -- 20th century -- Biography -- Drama.

Gay men -- Cuba -- Biography -- Drama.

Poets, Cuban -- 20th century -- Biography -- Drama.

Male homosexuality -- Cuba -- Drama.

Gay men -- Cuba -- Social conditions -- Drama.

Socialism and homosexuality -- Cuba -- Drama.

Political persecution -- Cuba -- Drama.

Censorship -- Cuba -- Drama.

Prisons -- Cuba -- Drama.