Boys Don’t Cry
In a nutshell: Boys Don’t Cry tells the sad and tragic true
story of Brandon Teena; a transgender male who was born female, originally
named Teena Brandon. After living with his cousin and being kicked out, Brandon heads off to Nebraska, and befriends a group of
ex-cons. Here he meets Lana, and the two form a relationship. But Brandon makes
the mistake of being a moth flying too close to the flame, and it doesn’t take
long until the truth of his identity is revealed, leading to a brutally violent
confrontation.
What was different/original about
it? Boys Don’t
Cry was one of the early films to portray a female-turned-male character so
intensively, exposing the dehumanising and graphic repercussions of that secret
in a community driven by fear and social persecution. The performance of a then
24 year old Hillary Swank was ground-breaking – earning her an Oscar – and a
big contribution to the controversy surrounding the film. It’s a difficult film
to watch, particularly towards the end, and you may only want to do so once;
but you won’t forget it anytime soon.
How did it change movies? This film, again a small budget affair released
in 1999, proved that even the most secretive and less-talked about sides of our
society can make compelling viewing. Even though the subject matter and
behaviours of the central characters were disturbing, the film was brave enough
to remind the world that these conditions and individuals do exist, and often
live a life of ridicule and trauma. It shattered many conventional rules of cinema,
in relation to the portrayal of transgender characters, and opened doors for
female actors to play more daring, challenging and atypical roles, i.e.
“Transamerica”.
Next up,..."Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels"
or
Next up,..."Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels"
or
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