7 pm

Before Night Falls, based on the writer’s autobiography of the same name, is the story of Cuban poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas, born in rural Oriente province in 1943. After joining the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power in 1959, Arenas moved to Havana, where he joined a circle of writers and artists and gained critical acclaim for his own work. His political writing and openly gay lifestyle eventually led to imprisonment by the Castro regime, failed attempts to leave the country, and his final departure from Cuba in the 1980 Mariel boatlift. Arenas died in Manhattan in 1990. Presented as part of the Bank of America Free Thursday Film Series; in June, the series features films by award-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem.

2000; directed by Julian Schnabel; English; 133 minutes; rated R.
Free ticketed event; tickets available one hour before show