For the 2000 Film:
- Acting for Two: Johnny Depp plays Lt. Victor and Bon Bon, one of the prisoners.
- California Doubling: Though most of the movie was set in Cuba, it was filmed in Mexico instead.
- Fake Nationality: Most of the cast playing Cubans, including Spanish Javier Bardem, Mexican Diego Luna, Canadian Michael Wincott, French Olivier Martinez, and Americans Johnny Depp and Sean Penn.
- Real-Life Relative: Director Julian Schnabel's wife played Arenas's mother, and his children all have bit roles.
- What Could Have Been: Marlon Brando and Al Pacino were considered for the part of Lezama Lima.
