In this compelling drama, Camille (Pascale Bussieres) is a French Canadian professor of mythology at a Calvinist college in Toronto. She and her fiance Martin (Henry Czerny), a fellow professor, are in line to become co-chaplains at the college. However, Camille's structured existence is shattered by the death of her dog and meeting Petra (Rachel Crawford), a lesbian circus performer who immediately takes a fancy to her.
Writer and director Patricia Rozema (I've Heard the Mermaids Singing) beautifully choreographs the complicated erotic dance of these two women from diametrically opposed worlds. Eventually, Camille is the one who must take the leap of faith. In doing so she actually incarnates the transformation she has only talked about in her mythology lectures.
When Night Is Falling is a powerful film about the force field of sexual desire and its spiritual potencies.
