When Night Is Falling

When Night Is Falling

Year: 1995

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Patricia Rozema

DramaRomance

A striking study of desire, the film follows Camille, a professor at a Protestant college in a long‑term partnership with Martin, a minister colleague. When she meets Petra, a flamboyant circus performer, Camille is irresistibly drawn to her. Pursuing Petra upends Camille’s life, forcing her to confront the conflict between duty and desire.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – When Night Is Falling (1995)

Explore the full timeline and setting of When Night Is Falling (1995). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary

The film takes place in the present day, depicting modern societal issues such as sexuality and personal identity. It reflects current social dynamics, including the struggles with acceptance and the search for authentic self-expression in a contemporary setting.

Location

urban setting, circus environment

The movie is set primarily in an urban environment where Camille works and lives, as well as in the vibrant culture of a circus community. The city provides a backdrop for her professional and personal struggles, contrasting with the lively, nomadic world of the circus performers. The circus represents a place of freedom and self-discovery, standing out vividly against the city life.

🏙️ City 🎪 Circus 🏩 Urban

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:02

Main Characters – When Night Is Falling (1995)

Meet the key characters of When Night Is Falling (1995), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Camille Baker (Pascale Bussières)

Camille is a university literature professor facing internal conflict over her sexuality and personal desires. She is introspective, sensitive, and initially conflicted about her feelings, but gradually seeks authenticity and happiness. Her character embodies the struggle for self-acceptance in a conservative environment.

🌸 Intellectual 💔 Conflicted 🧗‍♀️ Self-discovery

Petra (Rachael Crawford)

Petra is a charismatic circus performer with a free-spirited and confident personality. She embodies freedom, passion, and emotional openness. Her boldness attracts Camille, and she acts as a catalyst for Camille’s journey towards self-acceptance.

🎭 Performer 🦋 Bold ❤️ Passionate

Martin (Henry Czerny)

Martin is Camille’s long-term partner and a university professor. He is traditional, stable, and initially unaware of Camille’s internal struggles. His character represents societal expectations and conventional relationships, contrasting with Camille’s evolving identity.

📚 Traditional 🤝 Loyal 🚧 Conventional

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:02

Major Themes – When Night Is Falling (1995)

Explore the central themes of When Night Is Falling (1995), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌹 Love & Desire

The movie explores complex romantic and sexual relationships, focusing on Camille's evolving feelings for Petra and her internal conflict. It examines themes of passion, intimacy, and the personal journey toward embracing one’s true desires.

🦄 Freedom & Self-Discovery

Circus life symbolizes a world of liberation and authenticity, where characters seek to break free from societal expectations. Camille’s journey from conformity to embracing her true self underscores the theme of personal liberation.

🌲 Identity & Choice

The film delves into questions of personal identity, morality, and the choices characters make to live authentically. Camille's tension between societal expectations and her desires highlights the theme of discovering and accepting oneself.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:02

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about forbidden love and self-discovery like When Night Is Falling

Character-driven stories about embracing forbidden desire and finding your true self.If you enjoyed the journey of self-discovery and forbidden romance in When Night Is Falling, you'll appreciate these other films. They feature emotional LGBTQ+ relationships, characters grappling with duty versus desire, and stories about breaking free from social conformity to find true love and identity.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist living a conventional life who is unexpectedly drawn to a person or relationship that challenges their entire worldview. The narrative arc revolves around the internal struggle to reconcile societal expectations with personal authenticity, often culminating in a choice that leads to freedom but also significant loss.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core narrative of erotic awakening and identity crisis against a backdrop of social or religious pressure. They feature a similar bittersweet tone, medium emotional weight from the cost of change, and a hopeful yet hard-won resolution centered on personal truth.

Quietly intense character transformation movies like When Night Is Falling

Steady-paced dramas where internal turmoil leads to profound personal change.For viewers who liked the steady, introspective pace and medium emotional intensity of When Night Is Falling, this list highlights similar character-driven dramas. These films focus on a protagonist's internal struggle and transformation, featuring a mix of melancholic reflection and hopeful release, perfect for those who appreciate nuanced emotional journeys.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist initially defined by rigidity and conformity whose life is gradually upended by an encounter or event. The story unfolds at a measured pace, focusing on small moments and internal realizations that accumulate into a major life change. The conflict is primarily psychological, pitting the safety of the known against the terrifying freedom of the unknown.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific mix of steady pacing, medium intensity, and a focus on internal, emotional conflict. They create a contemplative, sensual atmosphere and balance melancholic elements with a ultimately hopeful arc of liberation, making the viewing experience feel introspective and deeply resonant.

Unlock the Full Story of When Night Is Falling

Don't stop at just watching — explore When Night Is Falling in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what When Night Is Falling is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

When Night Is Falling Summary

Read a complete plot summary of When Night Is Falling, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

When Night Is Falling Summary

When Night Is Falling Timeline

Track the full timeline of When Night Is Falling with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

When Night Is Falling Timeline

When Night Is Falling Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of When Night Is Falling that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

When Night Is Falling Spoiler-Free Summary

More About When Night Is Falling

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about When Night Is Falling: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About When Night Is Falling

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