I saw this years ago at Brattle Theatre in Cambridge and never forgot it. My memory about the plot is vague but it goes something like this--It's about a woman living with a boyfriend who doesn't love or respect her. Then the circus comes to town and she falls in love with a woman working there. She tries to fight the feeling but finally gives in. It leads to a happy (if somewhat unbelievable) conclusion.This gained some controversy when it was first released because it was slapped with an NC-17. Why? The MPAA felt the sex scene between the two women was too explicit! That's absolutely ridiculous. I saw the uncut version and the sequence was soft core, erotic and not even remotely explicit. The director accused the MPAA of homophobia but cut out a minute or so to get the R rating. Sex aside this was beautifully done. The acting was good, the script interesting and well directed. It drew me in completely and the happy ending was great. If you get a chance see it. Wonderful movie.

Camille is a professor at a conservative Christian college who is affianced to minister and co-worker Martin. When Camille meets and is attracted to nervy and vivacious circus acrobat Petra, an inner tension begins to build within her. One gets the feeling the film-maker double majored in Art and Theater as this film is bursting with circus-themed surrealist metaphors and intense use of saturated colors. The surrealism sometimes seems a little heavy-handed, but I understand the film-maker was trying to contrast the Christian college milieu with that of the circus folk. The acting is very good and the film excels at depicting the hesitancy and awkwardness involved in striking out in an entirely new direction. Can you simultaneously reach physical fulfillment and grow spiritually by finding your erotic center and exploring new sexual possibilities? That's the question this film deals with. To the scriptwriter's credit, the professors and ministers who espouse decidedly conservative positions with regard to homosexuality are not superstitious, fire- breathing gay-bashers. There are some beautifully filmed and - by U.S. standards - quite revealing scenes of lesbian love-making in "When Night Is Falling," so if this sort of thing disturbs you, steer clear. In sum, this film works well and conveys the difficulty, awkwardness and joy of discovering new ways of being. To quote first Camille and then Petra: "I'm nervous." "So am I; I think you're supposed to be."

Patricia Rozema, director and writer, is a genius in her field of work. Her first film astonished me, called I've Heard The Mermaids Singing. I've watched this film dozens of times, and I can understand why it received so many awards, and why Sheila McCarthy, star of the film, is now a star of television and stage.Ms. Rozema's 3rd film, When Night Is Falling, which she wrote and directed, starring Rachael Crawford and Pascale Bussieres, won 2 awards, and is a story about opposites attract, and the two young women falling in love in spite of their backgrounds. If you are looking for an innocent and beautiful lesbian romance that is unique, entertaining, and honest to a fault, then this is the film to watch. You will definitely want a copy for your library.

I have seen this movie multiple times over the past several years, and it continues to be one of my absolute favorites.The story may have a hole here and there, and maybe the protagonists are not totally realistic (as some other reviewers have pointed out). However, that is really beside the point. You should see it because it is full of beautiful images, the characters are engaging, the lovemaking is truly steamy, and mostly because it is unabashedly, head-over-heals, romantic. Even the most ornery skeptic has to give in to the celebration of love portrayed by Ms. Crawford and Ms. Bussieres. It is rare for a movie to be truly erotic, and even rarer to stay sweet and gentle. When Night is Falling manages both these things.See it by yourself, or, even better, with someone you love.