Javier Bardem was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Reinaldo Arenas in Julian Schnabel’s BEFORE NIGHT FALLS, which was also distributed by Fine Line Features.

Former ship’s mechanic Ramón Sampedro has been paralyzed in bed for thirty years, tenderly cared for on a farm by four members of his family: his sister-in-law Manuela (Mabel Rivera), his older brother José (Celso Bugallo), his father, Joaquin (Joan Dalmau), and his teenage nephew Javi (Tamar Novas). Since his injury, Ramón has been known for his upbeat attitude and his warm smile; still, his sole wish has been to bring his life to a dignified end.

But the confines of Ramón’s world are opened up by the arrival of two women: Julia (Belén Rueda) a lawyer helping with his cause; and Rosa (Lola Dueñas), a local woman who wants to convince him to change his mind. The two women’s encounters with the charismatic Ramón will forever change both their lives and his.

Like Ramón, Julia has lost mobility; she walks with a cane due to a degenerative disease. Living in his house, spending every day with Ramon to help his legal effort, Julia finds herself drawn to Ramón. Although Julia is married and Ramón is unable to leave his bed, an increasingly powerful connection develops between them. Ramón understands Julia more than any man she has ever known: he is the great love of her life, and she of his.

Rosa comes to Ramón a complete mess: a single mother with two children, she can’t hold a job and has a catastrophic history with men. She thinks that by helping Ramón, maybe she can help herself; Ramón quickly sees that Rosa is the one in desperate need of care. Over time, Ramón grows to enjoy her good-natured innocence, and freely bestows his wisdom and friendship. Rosa blossoms under Ramón’s attentions and his kindness literally saves her life.

With their powerful feelings for Ramón, neither Julia nor Rosa wants to face the idea of life without him.

It will be left to one of these women to show the most unselfish and profound form of love.