My 150 Favorite Movies - #104

Before Night Falls (2000)

Javier Bardem achieved his first mainstream American success with his role as Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas, based on Arenas' memoir. This film takes us through Arenas' troubles, from early support of Castro's regime, to antagonizing the Cuban government, being incarcerated, and subsequent escape to the United States, and his problems here, culminating with his death from AIDS in 1990. An eloquent movie, poetic and moving in exploring one man's tormented life.
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