Before Night Falls offers a profoundly empathetic and affirming portrayal of Reinaldo Arenas, an openly gay Cuban writer. It celebrates his identity and relationships, while powerfully critiquing the severe persecution he faced. Despite a tragic life and end, the film unequivocally affirms the worth of his LGBTQ+ life and art.

The film portrays transvestite characters, notably Lázaro Gómez Carriles, with dignity, complexity, and agency amidst severe state persecution. It empathetically highlights their resilience and the external nature of the obstacles they face, affirming the worth of their lives despite tragic circumstances.