Arenas was born in 1943 in an extremely impoverished village in Cuba, and participated in the anti-Castro movement in his early years. At the age of 20, he published his first novel in Havana, the only work he published in his own country. His subsequent works were either confiscated and destroyed by the Cuban government or later published abroad. Arenas was sent to prison several times because of his homosexuality and his repeated criticism of the government at the time. The funny thing is that homosexuality turned out to be his ticket to a free country, because in Cuba anyone who is gay or mentally ill can leave the country. He came to the United States in 1980, but soon discovered that New York was not the paradise he had dreamed of. Arenas died of AIDS in the United States in 1990.
Before Night Falls movie plot
2022-03-02 08:01
Extended Reading
-
Reinaldo Arenas: What do you want?
Cuban Police Officer: What do I want... First of all, I want Carlos to frisk this guy.
Reinaldo Arenas: But he's not even dressed.
Police Officer: What's your name?
Reinaldo Arenas: My name? Franz Kafka.
Police Officer: Hm. You think I am ignorant?
[Reinaldo shakes his head]
Police Officer: Have any of you ever heard of a Camp called La Isla de Joventud?
[Everyone declines]
Police Officer: Then maybe you can tell me, when's the last time you took it up your ass.
Reinaldo Arenas: The last time? Oh, I don't remember.
Police Officer: No?
Reinaldo Arenas: But I remember the last time you did.
Police Officer: When was that?
Reinaldo Arenas: Maybe the last time you bent over to tie your boots.
-
Reinaldo's Mother: Reinaldo, would you be sad if I died?