Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Director:

Kimberly Peirce

Writers:

Kimberly Peirce (writer) &
Andy Bienen (writer)

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:

Breast Suckling | Transphobia | Kiss | Gender Disguise | Ftm

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 40 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
Jeanetta Arnette	...	Lana's Mom (as Jeannetta Arnette)
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
Lou Perryman	...	Sheriff
Lisa Renee Wilson	...	Pam (as Lisa Wilson)
Jackson Kane	...	Sam Phillips
Joseph Gibson	...	Tom
Michael Tripp	...	Nerdy Teen
Shana McClendon	...	Girl in Car
Libby Villari	...	Nurse
Paige Carl Griggs	...	Dave (Deputy)
Gail Cronauer	...	Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Guilford Adams	...	Teena Brandon's Father (uncredited)
Chad Briley	...	Extra (uncredited)
Ryan Thomas Brockington	...	Kiss (uncredited)
Michelle Fairbanks	...	Girl in Car (uncredited)
Gabriel Horn	...	Lester, Restraining Order Guy (uncredited)
Robert A. Steffenino	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Natalie Zea	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Kimberly Peirce

Writing credits
Kimberly Peirce		(writer) &
Andy Bienen		(writer)

Produced by
Jill Footlick	....	line producer
John Hart	....	producer
Caroline Kaplan	....	executive producer
Pamela Koffler	....	executive producer
Eva Kolodner	....	producer
Jon Marcus	....	line producer: additional photography
Jonathan Sehring	....	executive producer
Jeff Sharp	....	producer (as Jeffrey Sharp)
Bradford Simpson	....	associate producer
John Sloss	....	executive producer
Morton Swinsky	....	co-producer (as Mort Swinsky)
Christine Vachon	....	producer

Original Music by
Nathan Larson

Cinematography by
Jim Denault

Film Editing by
Tracy Granger
Lee Percy

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Jennifer McNamara
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Michael Shaw

Art Direction by
Shawn Carroll

Costume Design by
Victoria Farrell

Makeup Department
Angela Angel	....	makeup assistant
Jane Choi	....	key makeup artist: additional photography
Jeff Francis	....	hair stylist: Ms. Sevigny (additional photography)
Kalen Hoyle	....	makeup artist
Renee Lecuyer	....	key hair stylist (as Renee Le Cuyer)
Renee Lecuyer	....	key makeup artist (as Renee Le Cuyer)
Kerrie R. Plant	....	key hair stylist: additional photography (as Kerrie Plant)
Kerrie R. Plant	....	makeup artist: additional photography (as Kerrie Plant)
Nicki Ledermann	....	makeup consultant (uncredited)

Production Management
Rachel Peters	....	executive in charge of production: Hart Sharp
Katie Roumel	....	executive in charge of production: Killer Films
Jamie H. Zelermyer	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alfie Kiernan	....	second assistant director
W. Alex Korp	....	second second assistant director
Jim LaClair	....	assistant director
Jeanine Rohn	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Phyllis Detrich	....	property master
Sherief Elkatsha	....	set dresser: additional photography
Jimmy Estrada	....	assistant property master (as Jimmy Joe Estrada)
Lynn A. Johanson	....	lead person
Lissa Murphy	....	set dresser
Amy Beth Silver	....	art director: additional photography (as Amy Silver)
Andrea Stanley	....	art director: additional photography
Debra Sugarman	....	on-set dresser
Sarah J. Thompson	....	set dresser
Minda Work	....	lead person

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	adr editor
Jeremy Brill	....	sound intern
Eric A. Christoffersen	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Eric Christoffersen)
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sean Garnhart	....	sound effects editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	supervising sound editor
Matthew Haasch	....	foley mixer
Alex Herrera	....	boom operator (as Alex A. Herrera)
William Kozy	....	sound mixer: additional photograhy
Hal Levinsohn	....	adr editor (as Hal Levinson)
Mack Melson	....	sound recordist
Cate Montana	....	sound intern
Igor Nikolic	....	assistant foley editor
Glenfield Payne	....	sound effects editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Jennifer Ralston	....	foley supervisor
Jac Rubenstein	....	dialogue editor
Matthew C. Beville	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Kate Eales	....	background sound editor (uncredited)
Sean Garnhart	....	sound designer (uncredited)
Jennifer Ralston	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jack Bennett	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Mark Dornfeld	....	optical effects
Vincent Lavares	....	digital asset manager (uncredited)
Mark Sawicki	....	optical camera (uncredited)

Stunts
Tim Buchanan	....	stunts
Jeremy Hill	....	stunts
Ben Loggins	....	stunt coordinator
Diane Towery	....	stunts
Russell Towery	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Troy Anderson	....	third electrician
Joe Arcidiacono	....	director of photography: additional photography
Paul Armstrong	....	additional assistant camera
Rhett Bakke	....	second assistant camera
Hugo Bonilla	....	best boy grip: additional photography
John Cadenhead	....	third grip (as John T. Cadenhead III)
Claire F. Cario	....	first assistant camera (as Claire Cario)
Elizabeth Casinelli	....	best boy electric
Jack Cocker	....	electric swing
Christopher Davis	....	additional electrician
Lance Dooley	....	additional swing
James D. Faust	....	additional electrician
Hank Fischer	....	electric swing
Tom Graybael	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Tom 'Barney' Graybael)
Matthew Hale	....	best boy grip (as Matthew D. Hale)
Carrie Huff	....	additional grip
Daniel Jacob	....	additional electrician
Ruben Levins	....	camera production assistant: second unit
Russell Lindsay	....	additional grip
Seth Loft	....	key grip: additional photography
Bill Matlock	....	still photographer
Brian McKee	....	key grip
Scott Miller	....	gaffer
Michael Mizell	....	best boy electric: additional photography
Eric Montes	....	additional grip
Nathan O'Neal	....	camera loader
John Pirozzi	....	time-lapse photographer
Chris Reynolds	....	additional assistant camera
Antonio Rossi	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
James Soward	....	additional electrician
Seamus Tierney	....	additional electrician
Joshua Van Praag	....	electric swing
Matt Walters	....	additional grip
Sebastian Widmann	....	camera loader: additional photography
John Wilcox	....	additional swing (as John 'J.D.' Wilcox)
Jason May	....	grip (uncredited)
Paul S. Shapiro	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Emily Abt	....	extras casting
Elizabeth Beck	....	extras casting
Mark Bennett	....	casting assistant: New York
Deborah Maxwell Dion	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles
Amy Grappell	....	local casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sarah Beers	....	wardrobe supervisor: additional photography
Mary McCormick	....	seamstress
Michelle Elaine Teague	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Matthew Ballen	....	post-production intern
Janna Bilski	....	post-production intern
Marc Bruni	....	post-production intern
Gabrielle Demeestere	....	post-production intern
Emily Digiacomo	....	post-production intern
Ryan Ganimian	....	post-production intern
Joe Graceffa	....	post-production intern
Rebecca Green	....	post-production intern
Fred Grinstein	....	post-production intern
Michelle Harrison	....	associate editor
Elizabeth Heeden	....	second conform assistant editor (as Elizabeth R. Heeden)
Kit Hui	....	post-production assistant
Irene Kassow	....	first assistant editor
Jonatan Kaye	....	second conform assistant editor
Marc Landers	....	post-production intern
Jordan Leff	....	post-production intern
Addison MacDonald	....	post-production intern
Berndt Mader	....	post-production intern
Aleeza Marashlian	....	post-production intern
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Daishiro Narita	....	post-production assistant
Andy Newcomer	....	post-production intern
Tina Pacheco	....	first assistant editor
Maxine Pardo	....	post-production intern
Seyi Peter-Thomas	....	post-production intern
Cecile Rebbot	....	post-production intern
Olivia Relova	....	post-production intern
Sebastien Robeis	....	post-production intern
April Roth	....	post-production intern
Lousine Shamamian	....	apprentice editor
Michael Sledd	....	post-production intern
Patricia Sztaba	....	negative matcher
Stan Sztaba	....	negative matcher
Laura Weinberg	....	conforming assistant editor
Virginia Williams	....	post-production intern
Tanya Yokum	....	post-production intern
John McNulty	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Ken Rubenfeld	....	dailies colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Jim Dunbar	....	executive music supervisor
Christopher S. Parker	....	music clearances (as Chris Parker)
Randall Poster	....	music supervisor
Allan Zaleski	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Marty Carrington	....	driver
Robert C. Fite	....	driver
Wally Welch	....	driver

Other crew
Laird Adamson	....	assistant: Christine Vachon
Leora Backer	....	assistant production office coordinator
Aaron Bartz	....	production assistant
Paul Brennan	....	legal services
Peter Burns	....	assistant: John Hart
Ronnie Butler	....	security officer
John Cadenhead	....	location manager
Terry K. Cahill	....	security officer
George Camarda	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Judson Davenport	....	location production assistant
Rachel Dawson	....	production office coordinator: additional photography
Stephen Dupree	....	production assistant
Barak Epstein	....	intern
Tony Estrada	....	location scout
Dee Evans	....	production office coordinator
Mark M. Faulkner	....	security officer
Andrea Friedman	....	additional location manager
Tommy Garrett	....	security officer
Kyle Gross	....	security officer
Jeremy Slade Haak	....	intern
Gabriel Harris	....	production assistant: additional photography
Beverly G. Hendley	....	security officer
Jeff Hill	....	publicist
Gates Houp	....	production assistant
Louis Katz	....	physician: New York
Kim Kyle	....	intern
Maria Lee	....	intern
Sherri Lennon	....	location manager
Joni Linton	....	script supervisor: second unit
Jennifer Lobban	....	accounting intern
Jennifer Lobban	....	production intern
Ann Marsland	....	office production assistant
Jen McGowan	....	production assistant: additional photography (as Jennifer McGowan)
Dr. Gerald Michaelson	....	physician: California
Randy Miears	....	key set production assistant
Susan R. Millard	....	security officer
Ross Miller	....	insurance
Pamela Mount	....	location scout
David O	....	production assistant
Roman Ostrowski	....	physician: New York
Bill Perkins	....	location production assistant
Michael Raines	....	production assistant
Jack Riccobono	....	production assistant: additional photography (as Jack Ricobono)
Pamela Richardson	....	script supervisor
Stanton Grant Richardson	....	security officer
Cody Rogers	....	office production assistant
Cody Rogers	....	set medic
Bob Roizman	....	projectionist: additional photography
Jennifer Ruff	....	avid supporter
Ben Schoen	....	title designer
Paula Schoen	....	physician: California
M.K. Shaw	....	production accountant
Mark Shelby	....	location scout
Fred Siefel	....	tax accountant
Anitra K-M Smith	....	office production assistant
Maya Stowe	....	assistant to director
Laurie Weeks	....	additional dialogue
Paul Worrel	....	physician: Texas
Jason Zampino	....	production assistant: additional photography
Sarah Nean Bruce	....	production advisor (uncredited)
Robert P. Campbell	....	product placement (uncredited)
Dylan Verrechia	....	assistant: Kim Peirce (uncredited)

Thanks
Sarah Nean Bruce	....	special thanks (as Sara N. Bruce)
Lana Tisdel	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Hart-Sharp Entertainment
• Independent Film Channel (IFC)
• Killer Films

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (Argentina)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (Germany)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (Portugal)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (France) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Custom Film Effects  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Take It Like a Man (USA) (working title)

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:

USA:R (edited for re-rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | 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:

Hart-Sharp Entertainment

Trivia:

The movie is based on the life of 'Brandon, Teena'.

Goofs:

Brandon goes into a building that says Hunt County on it to pay his ticket, but there's no Hunt County in Nebraska, however there is one in Texas where the movie was filmed.

Quotes:

Lana: You don't have to be sober to be able to weigh spinach.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "American Dad!: Helping Handis (#1.21)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Bluest Eyes in Texas

Disturbing and powerful film

This is a poignant and powerful film. It is the true story of Teena Brandon, a young woman who is in the throes of a sexual identity crisis. She cuts her hair and dresses like a man to see if she can pass for one. What starts out as an experiment turns into a full fledged alter ego as she is accepted as a man by a group she meets in a bar. The story follows the group's escapades, including Brandon's love affair with Lana, who falls in love with Brandon, thinking she's a man. It culminates with the discovery that Brandon is actually a woman with a dramatic confrontation in the finale.

This is film noir at it's finest. A lot of people think that this is a story about courage and lesbianism but it is really about neither. It is about the search for identity; not just sexual identity but the search for a deeper self . All the characters in this film were lost and confused, but Brandon was the only one who realized it of herself. The rest were basically playing out their despondent lives trying not to think of who or what they were. Here was a person they loved and accepted, but who turned out to be the most heinous of deviants as defined by their own prejudices and fears. This is why they were so fundamentally shaken upon the revelation of Brandon's true identity. It left them to confront their own flimsy identities. They were left with no respite from the emotional vortex. Brandon presented a terrifying threat to the way they viewed themselves. They were compelled to change who they were or hate someone they had grown to love.

This film was also about obsession. Brandon takes extraordinary risks to live the male role, not out of courage, but out of an obsession to know and understand it, and to see if she can find comfort and a sense of belonging. Likewise, writer/director Kimberly Peirce had been obsessed with this story and researched it for five years before finally making the film. Obsession generally leads to one of two places: greatness or death. For Peirce, at least for the moment, it has lead to greatness in the production of this film.

Strictly from a technical directorial standpoint there was nothing special here. The lighting was amateurish, the shots were mostly mundane. The sets and locations were realistically trashy, but it is a lot easier to create realistic trash than realistic elegance. Peirce also bogs the film down occasionally with excessive character development. However, Peirce captures in the story and the filming, the essence of rural lower class crudenes, bigotry and hatred and fear. It is the raw emotion that reaches out and grabs us. Her lens brought into sharp focus the base reality of inescapable despair and deluded hope. Reality often has fangs, and Peirce was undaunted in showing them and then ripping us to shreds.

As to Hilary Swank, I can only add one more rose to the bouquet of praise that has been heaped on her. If there was any courage in this story, it was the courage of Swank to take such a complex and disturbing role. The subtlety of her performance was astounding. She needed not just to be a woman playing a man. She needed to be a woman playing a woman playing a man, trying to look convincing yet insecure and unsure of how she was being perceived by the other characters. When in character, her many skillful lapses into moments of femininity, only to snap back into masculinity were masterfully done. For Swank, this was a meteoric rise from obscurity. It remains to be seen if it was just the perfect alignment of actor and role, or something more. I hope for the latter and look forward to seeing her next project.

Greatly obscured by Swankmania, was the performance by Chloe Sevigny as Lana, Brandon's love interest. She gave an outstanding performance in another extraordinarily difficult role. Her conflict over the implications of her sexual and emotional feelings for Brandon were sensitively and delicately portrayed. She played the part with a tentative eagerness, just as one would expect of someone whose sexual identity had been thrown into upheaval. It was also no easy career choice to be cast in a role with so many explicit sexual scenes with another woman.

This film was stark reality with no holds barred. The filmmaking was technically unsophisticated (and I'm usually a real stickler about that), but I rated it a 9/10 on pure emotional power. This film is not for you if you are offended by lesbianism, graphic violence or profanity. But if you are not intimidated by the naked reality of the darker side of life, this is a film you must experience.