★★★★½ (4.5/5) Recommended for fans of: Desert Hearts (1985), The Watermelon Woman (1996), Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019).
Petra has lost her luggage and needs dry clothes. Camille, flustered, offers her a sweater. Within hours, Camille is watching Petra’s circus troupe perform—bodies flying through air, fire eating, and raw, unapologetic physicality. The collision between Camille’s theological order and Petra’s carnal chaos is immediate, electric, and terrifying. when night is falling -1995-
Rozema also breaks the fourth wall with playful intertitles (“Meanwhile, back in the land of the living”) and inserts shots of a young girl reading a fairy tale—reminding us that this is, at heart, a fable. A lesbian fable with a happy ending. In 1995, that was radical. ★★★★½ (4
For younger viewers discovering it today, what shocks is not the sex—which is remarkably chaste by modern standards—but the joy . There is no homophobic violence, no deathbed goodbye, no obligatory apology. There is only the terrifying, glorious business of two women choosing each other against the weight of a world that says no. Within hours, Camille is watching Petra’s circus troupe
"When Night is Falling" (1995) is a haunting and atmospheric thriller that explores the darker aspects of human nature. With its unique narrative, standout performances, and expertly crafted atmosphere, the film is a must-see for fans of psychological thrillers and neo-noir cinema. Despite receiving limited attention upon its initial release, the film has since gained a cult following and critical acclaim, and its influence can be seen in a range of films and television shows.