Brandon Teena was shot to death in 1993 in a farm house outside of Falls City, Nebraska. He was a drifter, and was known for romancing females. Brandon was not a man, despite the fact that he had a reputation for romancing women. Teena Brandon was a woman who had gender confusion. She was able to pass for a male amongst her peers, girlfriends and killers that she once thought were her closest friends.
Boys Don’t Cry will be a movie based upon the above true tale, and you’ll either like it or dislike it. You won’t be able to understand Teena as Brandon if, for example, you are homophobic. People who have been in similar situations, such being black or homosexual and living in a society where they are not accepted will understand how Teena Brandon feels.
Teena (played Hilary Swank), grew in Lincoln, Nebraska. She shared a house with a gay man friend. Teena was confused about her gender. Teena had been known in Lincoln by her birth name, Brandon Teena. She was evicted from the town when this secret was revealed. She was viewed as dirty, and not welcome in her town. She fled to Falls City. Falls City is a place where drug abuse, poverty, violence, unemployment and isolation are all commonplace. Teena played Brandon to the fullest before she fled. She shaved her hair, put a sock in her pants to create the bulge she wanted and strapped on her breasts.
Teena ran from the law after she was arrested in Lincoln. She stole cars and did not appear in court. She was charged with these crimes. She, or he as we’ll call him, quickly became part of the group in Falls City. Brandon’s girlfriend is found in this gang. Lana’s former boyfriend, John (Peter Sarsgaard), always stays close by and is jealous that Lana is now with Brandon. John accepts Brandon. He and Tom (Brendan Sexton) become close friends.
Brandon has the advantage of knowing what women really want. He wins Lana’s heart this way. He is friends Lana’s mom, and he lives with Candace. Lana reveals Brandon’s secret when she visits him in the female cells of jail after he is arrested for a traffic offense. She accepts it, and loves Brandon despite the fact that he’s a woman. John and Tom are hurt by Brandon’s betrayal.
Brandon is humiliated by the men and stripped in their presence. When they find out the rumours true, then they slap and rape Brandon in his car. It is a very graphic scene. Brandon is victimized when he goes before the police. He is not treated with respect. He dies a few weeks later because they don’t treat him with respect. Lana, as well as Candace, were shot in the farmhouse.
Teena Brandon may still be living today, if police had taken the proper actions. The police should’ve taken John and Tom in custody. This would have prevented them from killing Teena Brandon. John and Tom were eventually arrested and charged in the brutal double-murders of Brandon Lana. They are both on death rows.
The film had a tight budget. It is obvious from the camerawork and scenes. The acting, however, is on par with a high-budget film. Hilary Swank was awarded the Best Actress Oscar in 1999. Chloe Sevigny, however, did not win.
Funny thing is that many of those who applauded Hilary’s victory hadn’t seen the movie. The movie was shown only in small theatres. It hadn’t become a huge box-office success. This movie isn’t for those who are looking for light entertainment. Watch this film if you want to explore the darker side of humanity. The combination of fear, jealousy, and ignorance that lead to murder will chill you to the core. This film is for those who are emotionally strong.
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