Boys Don't Cry (1999)

A young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska.

Director:

Kimberly Peirce

Writers:

Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen

Stars:

Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard

Won 1 Oscar. Another 49 wins & 38 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hilary Swank	...	Brandon Teena
Chloë Sevigny	...	Lana Tisdel
Peter Sarsgaard	...	John Lotter
Brendan Sexton III	...	Tom Nissen
Alicia Goranson	...	Candace
Alison Folland	...	Kate
Jeannetta Arnette	...	Lana's Mom
Rob Campbell	...	Brian
Matt McGrath	...	Lonny
Cheyenne Rushing	...	Nicole
Robert Prentiss	...	Trucker
Josh Ridgway	...	Kwik Stop Cashier
Craig Erickson	...	Trucker in Kwik Stop
Stephanie Sechrist	...	April
Jerry Haynes	...	Judge

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.

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Plot Keywords:

transgender | prejudice | sexual assault | sex | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

A true story about finding the courage to be yourself.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence including an intense brutal rape scene, sexuality, language and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Take It Like a Man

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$73,720, 10 October 1999

Gross USA:

$11,540,607

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,540,607

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, The Independent Film Channel Productions, Killer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, who deemed it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" in 2019.

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Goofs

The "Dustless Highway" is shown in the movie as a dirt road where all this dust covers the cars as they drive. In fact, the "Dustless Highway" is a paved county road.

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Quotes

Brandon: [on Lana] I'm going to ask her to marry me.
Lonny: Before or after your sex-change operation? Before or after you tell her you're a girl?
Brandon: Shut up!

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Crazy Credits

A 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.

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Alternate Versions

The double rape caused some big problems with the MPAA and had to be trimmed to avoid an NC-17 rating. The European version is more explicit (especially with the first rapist.)

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Connections

Referenced in Human Capital (2013)

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Soundtracks

Rock Your Baby
Written by Harry Wayne Casey (as Harry W. Casey) and Richard Finch
Performed by George McCrae
Published by Windswept Pacific Songs (BMI)
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

WOW! One of the most powerful films EVER!

For a movie to be able to start off a "little" (emphasis on little) slow, and turn into a spectacle of both amazing acting, directing, and an amazing script is not only a rarity, but is almost unheard of. "Boys Don't Cry" is one of the most powerful films that I have ever seen. Ms. Hilary Swank embraced her character with open arms, and turned him into a hero. A incredibly hard task, considering a "few minor 'glitches'". The fact that this movie is based upon a true story only emphasizes the themes it is trying to portray. As a human race, it only makes sense that we should strive to accept our originality and differences, and celebrate them, rather than diminish them, and look upon them as being "bad". This movie is one that gives the audience the "complete package", and not just a pretty actress or soundtrack. As an all encompassing film, "Boys Don't Cry" is brilliant.