A Movie Analysis of Boys Don't Cry

In 1993, Brandon Teena, a teenage drifter who was famous locally for romancing the females in Falls City, Nebraska, was found shot dead in a farmhouse just outside of town. However, Brandon, despite his reputation with females, wasn't actually a man at all. "He" was Teena Brandon, a young woman who was struggling with gender identity. She had managed to pass as a man with all her peers, her girlfriends, and her killers, who had once considered themselves her best friends.

An Examination of the Film Boys Don't Cry

Boys Don't Cry is a film based on the true story mentioned above, which you will either love or hate. If you are homophobic or unfamiliar with the experience of being a minority in society, you might struggle to understand how Teena could be Brandon. But for those who have faced similar dilemmas, such as being Black in a predominantly white society or being a homosexual living in a non-accepting environment, you will fully grasp what it is like to be Teena Brandon or even Brandon Teena.

Background and Context

Teena Brandon, played by Hilary Swank, grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. She lived with a friend who was a homosexual man. Even he didn't understand Teena's gender issues. Teena was known to the people in Lincoln as Brandon Teena. When this secret was discovered, she was chased from town. People thought she was "dirty" and didn't belong in their community. She ran away to a town called Falls City, where unemployment, poverty, isolation, violence, and drug abuse were a normal part of everyday life. Before she ran away, Teena took her role as Brandon even further. She cut her hair short, used a sock to create the appearance of a bulge, and strapped her breasts to appear more masculine.

Life in Falls City

Teena was already in trouble with the law in Lincoln before fleeing to Falls City. She had stolen cars and failed to appear in court, and these charges followed her. When she, who we will now call he, arrived in Falls City, he quickly fit in with a group of people and became one of the gang. Within this group, Brandon meets a girl who becomes his girlfriend almost immediately. Unfortunately, Lana's (Chloe Sevigny) ex-boyfriend, John (Peter Sarsgaard), is always close at hand and is jealous of Lana's new relationship with Brandon. John accepts Brandon, and they become good friends, along with John's other friend Tom (Brendan Sexton III).

The Downfall

Brandon has an advantage over the other guys; he knows literally what a woman wants. This is how he wins over Lana. He lives with Candace (Alicia Goranson) and even befriends Lana's mother. When Brandon ends up in jail on a traffic violation, his secret is revealed as Lana visits him in the women's cells. She accepts the truth, loving Brandon even though he is a she. When John and Tom find out, they feel betrayed by Brandon.

They humiliate Brandon and force him to strip in front of them. When they confirm the rumor is true, they take him out in the car, brutally beat, and rape him. The scene is very graphic and disturbingly real. Brandon goes to the police, who then victimize him further. They don't treat him with respect, and because of this negligence, he ends up dead a few days later, shot in Candace's farmhouse, along with Lana.

The Aftermath

News recently revealed that the police were negligent in the case of Teena Brandon, and had they acted as they should, Teena might still be alive today. They should have taken John and Tom into custody, which would have prevented them from killing Teena (Brandon). John and Tom ended up being arrested and charged with the brutal double murder of Brandon and Lana. One of them is on death row, and the other has been sentenced to life in prison.

Production and Reception

The film was produced on a limited budget, evident from the scenes and camera work. However, the acting is on par with that of a multi-million dollar film. Hilary Swank won the 1999 Oscar for Best Actress, and Chloe Sevigny was nominated for Best Supporting Actress but didn't win.

The intriguing aspect is that many of the people applauding Hilary's win hadn't even seen the film. It had only been shown in small cinemas and wasn't a major box-office success. If you're looking for light-hearted entertainment, this movie is not for you. However, if you wish to delve into the darker side of human nature, then this movie is a must-watch. Witnessing the ignorance, combined with fear and jealousy that results in murder, is chilling to the bone. This movie is only for the emotionally robust.

References

Peirce, K. (Director). (1999). Boys Don't Cry. Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Swank, H. (Actor), Sevigny, C. (Actor), Sarsgaard, P. (Actor), & Sexton, B. (Actor). (1999). Boys Don't Cry. Fox Searchlight Pictures.