A young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska.A young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska.A young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Won 1 Oscar
- 50 wins & 38 nominations total
Videos1
Lisa Renee Wilson
- Pamas Pam
- (as Lisa Wilson)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
Storyline
Based on actual events. Brandon Teena is the popular new guy in a tiny Nebraska town. He hangs out with the guys, drinking, cussing, and bumper surfing, and he charms the young women, who've never met a more sensitive and considerate young man. Life is good for Brandon, now that he's one of the guys and dating hometown beauty Lana; however, he's forgotten to mention one important detail. It's not that he's wanted in another town for GTA and other assorted crimes, but that Brandon Teena was actually born a woman named Teena Brandon. When his best friends make this discovery, Brandon's life is ripped apart. —Zhe
- Taglines
- A true story about finding the courage to be yourself.
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for violence including an intense brutal rape scene, sexuality, language and drug use
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Hilary Swank was living as a man to prepare for the role of Brandon Teena, her neighbors believed that the young man coming and going from Swank's home (Swank in male character) was her visiting brother.
- GoofsThe court summons Candace finds in the trash can (for which Brandon traveled to Lincoln) says "Hunt County." The courthouse building that Brandon walks into to pay the traffic ticket ALSO says "Hunt County." That would mean that Brandon walked into the very same courthouse where the bench warrant was earlier issued, but the sheriff tells Brandon that "this is what the Lincoln authorities faxed us over."
- Crazy creditsA special thanks to all of the transmen and butch dykes who helped, advised and auditioned for this project and supported the process of bringing this story to the screen.
- Alternate versionsThe USA version originally garnered an NC-17 from the MPAA. The film was cut and re-rated R. The European version reportedly is uncut.
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: Double Jeopardy/Jakob the Liar/Mumford (1999)
- SoundtracksJust What I Needed
Written by Ric Ocasek
Performed by The Cars
Published by Lido Music, Inc.
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
Top review
Sensational subject matter masking a true romance
This is a very powerful, and in many ways very disturbing, film that ultimately lingers with me not for its sensational subject matter but for its tragic and rewarding love story. Here we have two troubled strangers, both horribly at odds with their surroundings, finding each other, falling in love despite the many factors against them, and finally becoming the victims of the perception of their love. Like many others, I was tremendously impressed by the performance of Hilary Swank but I think the glue that holds the film together and gives it amazing hope and humanity is Chloe Sevigny. She takes a role that could have easily fallen apart in a lesser actress's hands and gives it complexity and depth that goes well beyond the script. To watch her is a breathtaking journey. Watch the way she uses her face in this movie this is an actress of remarkable expressiveness and skill! Overall, it is a very fine film that merits any serious moviegoer's rapt attention.
helpful•6027
- timking
- Feb 24, 2000
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Take It Like a Man
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $11,540,607
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $73,720
- Oct 10, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $11,540,607
- Runtime
- 1h 58min
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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