Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Female-born Teena Brandon adopts his male identity of Brandon Teena and attempts to find himself and love in Nebraska.

Director:

Kimberly Peirce

Writers:

Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen

Stars:

Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard

Won 1 Oscar. Another 47 wins & 37 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:

prejudice | sexual assault | transgender | sex | lesbian slur | 

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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, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$11,533,945, 21 May 2000

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

Brendan Sexton III who played Tom was very distressed when filming the rape scene which was being filmed at night, he was eventually left in tears after filming it.

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Goofs

When Lana is talking to Candace and Kate about the first time she had sex with Brandon, she throws herself down on her bed, and puts her hands on her face. Her right hand is in front of her left hand, but in the next shot, they have swapped, and her left is in front of her right.

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Quotes

Lana: What were you like... before all this? Were you like me, like a GIRL girl?
Brandon: Yeah... like a long time ago... but then I guess I was just like a boy girl, then I was just a jerk.

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to ... everyone who volunteered to speak about his or her experiences and help with research.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.154 (2011)

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Soundtracks

Fan Blades of Love
Written by Ed Hall
Performed by Ed Hall
Published by Thoomp Ka-Bloosh (BMI)
Courtesy of Trance Syndicate

User Reviews

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.