The Brandon Teena Story (1998)

Documentary about a multiple murder in rural Nebraska in 1993.

Directors:

Susan Muska, Gréta Olafsdóttir (as Greta Olafsdottir)

Stars:

Daphne, Reanna, Gina

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daphne	...	Herself - Dated Brandon
Reanna	...	Herself - Dated Brandon
Gina	...	Herself - Brandon's Ex-girlfriend
Shaun	...	Himself - Friend
JoAnn	...	Herself - Friend
JoAnne Brandon	...	Herself - Brandon's Mother (as JoAnn Brandon)
Tammy Brandon	...	Herself - Brandon's Sister
John Lotter	...	Himself
Steve Goldsberry	...	Himself - Cheif Deputy Sheriff
Lana Tisdel	...	Herself - Dated Brandon
Michelle Lotter	...	Herself - Brandon's Friend
Linda Gutierres	...	Herself - Lana's Mother
Tom Nissen	...	Himself (as Thomas Nissen)
Jon Larson	...	Himself - Deputy Sheriff
Angie Lee	...	Herself

Storyline

Documentary about Brandon Teena (aka Teena Brandon), a transgendered person, who was murdered along with two others in 1993 in rural Nebraska. The story is told through interviews with people who knew Brandon, recorded interrogation and trial transcripts, and photographs and file film footage.

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Plot Keywords:

nebraska | murder | interview | ftm | cross dressing | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Zeitgeist Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brandon Teenan tapaus

Filming Locations:

Falls City, Nebraska, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,281, 27 September 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$40,999, 1 November 1998

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bless Bless Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Boys Don't Cry (1999)

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Soundtracks

If You Come Back To Heaven
Performed by Lorrie Morgan

User Reviews

Not a perfect documentary but tells a compelling story...

I just watched this on video last night, after having seeing "Boys Don't Cry" in the theaters a few weeks ago. This is the perfect companion piece for that movie which, though fictionalized in some aspects, treats the story pretty well. Where "The Brandon Teena" story suffers is in its failure to completely document Teena's pre Fall City lifestyle. We know Teena left Lincoln, Nebraska but we aren't given a more clear picture of his/her life there. For instance, while the mother is interviewed, what about the father? Was there one? Why didn't the mother drive down to Falls City right after she was raped? Why didn't she send her away from that town to a safe shelter, especially when the two perps were given their freedom? Didn't anyone think that John and Tom would try to exact revenge? These questions are never answered. One gets the feeling that Teena, aside from having a "sexual identity crisis" as she puts it, was an incredibly tortured soul, one who couldn't see the forest for the trees, as the saying goes.

This film contains fascinating subject matter which isn't given as thorough attention as it deserves.