Boys Don't Cry (1999)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Kimberly Peirce

Writers:

Kimberly Peirce (written by) &
Andy Bienen (written by)

Release Date:

29 October 1999 (Canada)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A true story about finding the courage to be yourself.

Plot:

The story of the life of Brandon Teena, a transgendered teen who preferred life in a male identity until it was discovered he was born biologically female.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Nebraska | Drinking | Female Female Relationship | Farm

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 42 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Take It Like a Man (USA) (working title)
A fiúk nem sírnak (Hungary) [hu]
Boys Don't Cry (Greece) [el]
Boys Don't Cry (France) [fr]
Boys Don't Cry (Spain) [es]
Boys Don't Cry (Denmark) [da]
Decki ne placu (Croatia) [hr]
Erkekler aglamaz (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Garotos Não Choram (Brazil) [pt]
Kluci neplácou (Czech Republic) [cs]
Les garçons ne pleurent pas (Canada: French title) [fr]
Los chicos no lloran (Spain) [es]
Los muchachos no lloran (Argentina) [es]
Meninos Não Choram (Brazil) [pt]
Nie czas na lzy (Poland) [pl]
Os rapazes Não Choram (Portugal) [pt]

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:R (Approved No. 36926) (edited for re-rating) | Philippines:R-18 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 (director's cut) | France:-16 | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:VM18 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/18 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | Brazil:18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

The director, Kimberly Peirce, first came across the story when reading a long article in Village Voice written by Donna Minkowitz which was printed a few months after the murder.

Goofs:

Continuity: John removes his shirt during the bumper skiing. The next time we see him he has his shirt on.

Quotes:

Brandon: Lana, you are one cranky girl.

Movie Connections:

Features Il pianeta degli uomini spenti (1961)

Soundtrack:

Boys Don't Cry

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.