Boys Don’t Cry (1999), directed by Kimberly Peirce, is a raw, deeply emotional drama based on the life and murder of Brandon Teena, a transgender man living in rural Nebraska. The film explores identity, violence, love, and systemic injustice with unflinching honesty. Below is a complete guide that covers every aspect of the film, from story details to behind-the-scenes insights.
Detailed Summary
Brandon’s New Beginning
Brandon Teena (Hilary Swank) leaves his hometown after being harassed for living as a man. Seeking a fresh start, he moves to a small rural community in Nebraska. There, Brandon quickly becomes popular, blending in, making friends, and finding acceptance he has never felt before. He begins a romantic relationship with Lana Tisdel (Chloë Sevigny), who is captivated by Brandon’s confidence and tenderness.
Love and Secrets
Brandon hides his transgender identity, hoping to live freely as a man. He bonds with ex-convicts John Lotter and Tom Nissen, who initially accept him. Meanwhile, Lana’s mother grows suspicious of Brandon, and small clues reveal that Brandon’s identity isn’t what people assume it to be.
Brandon’s past criminal record leads to his arrest. His assigned female identity is publicly revealed in local papers. Lana stands by him, but others begin to question who he is.
Hatred Unleashed
When John and Tom discover Brandon’s identity, their friendship turns into violent rage. Simmering resentment and toxic masculinity boil over. Brandon tries to escape with Lana, but the couple lacks money, resources, and support. Police involvement does little to protect him; instead, Brandon is dismissed, mocked, and shamed by authorities who should protect him.
Movie Ending
The final act is brutal, uncompromising, and historically accurate. After Brandon reports a sexual assault to the police, no protection is offered. The officers ignore the danger he warns them about, minimizing the attack. John and Tom later track Brandon down, kidnap him, and take him to a remote house where he is brutally assaulted again. After this, they execute Brandon, shooting him in the head, and also murder another witness, Lisa Lambert.
Lana arrives soon after, discovering the aftermath. She touches Brandon’s body one last time and breaks down, grieving the loss of the man she loved. The film closes with a quiet, devastating moment, emphasizing the point that Brandon’s death could have been prevented. The real text shown in the closing credits states that Lana moved away from Falls City and struggled to heal. The ending is not designed to shock, but to confront viewers with the consequences of intolerance, systemic violence, and neglect.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No.
The film ends with the factual aftermath displayed in text, but there are no additional scenes after the credits.
Type of Movie
Boys Don’t Cry is a biographical crime drama grounded in realism. It focuses on emotional, sociopolitical, and psychological elements rather than sensationalizing violence, making it a powerful character-driven story.
Cast
- Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena
- Chloë Sevigny as Lana Tisdel
- Peter Sarsgaard as John Lotter
- Brendan Sexton III as Tom Nissen
- Alicia Goranson as Candace
- Jeannetta Arnette as Lana’s Mother
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Nathan Larson, creating a subdued but emotionally charged soundtrack. The film also features period-relevant country, rock, and folk songs that ground the story in working-class Nebraska culture.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed primarily in Texas, not Nebraska. Locations such as Greenville and Dallas were used to recreate the bleak small-town Midwest environment. The muted colors and rural landscapes are essential to the film’s tone, emphasizing isolation, economic hardship, and lack of escape.
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Award for Best Actress – Hilary Swank (Won)
- Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Chloë Sevigny
- Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Drama – Hilary Swank (Won)
- Multiple nominations at Independent Spirit Awards and National Board of Review
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Hilary Swank lived as a man for several weeks to prepare for the role, even cutting her hair and hiding her identity from neighbors.
- Many scenes were filmed with long takes to maintain emotional tension without interruption.
- Director Kimberly Peirce spent years researching Brandon’s life, interviewing people who knew him.
- Chloë Sevigny’s performance was heavily improvisational, especially in emotional relationship scenes.
- Swank was paid only around $3,000 for the film, later joking that she didn’t even qualify for health insurance that year.
Inspirations and References
The film is based on true events, specifically the life and murder of Brandon Teena as documented in news reports, police records, and journalistic investigations. It also takes creative influence from the 1998 documentary The Brandon Teena Story.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There is no official alternate ending. However, a few scenes exploring Brandon’s earlier relationships were cut to keep focus on his time in Falls City. Some extended dialogue between Brandon and Lana was removed for pacing reasons.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Boys Don’t Cry is not adapted from a book, but several books and academic studies about Brandon Teena inspired Peirce’s research. The film focuses more on emotional truth rather than complete biographical accuracy, particularly regarding Lana’s portrayal as supportive; some real-life accounts suggest more distancing after Brandon’s outing.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Brandon singing and driving with Lana, symbolizing temporary freedom and love.
- The arrest scene where Brandon’s legal identity is exposed publicly.
- The police interrogation where Brandon is treated as a suspect rather than a victim.
- The final confrontation in the house leading to Brandon’s murder.
Iconic Quotes
- Brandon: “I’m not gonna lie. I’m just not gonna tell you everything.”
- Lana: “You’re not a liar. You’re just different.”
- Sheriff: “Are you a boy or a girl, Brandon?”
This line is chilling due to the context of interrogation and victim-blaming.
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The clothing style was modeled after real photographs of Brandon.
- Many extras in bar scenes were non-actors from surrounding rural towns, emphasizing realism.
- Brandon’s handwriting in the film was recreated from actual police evidence documents.
Trivia
- Hilary Swank’s Oscar is considered one of the most acclaimed “transformational performance” wins in film history.
- The film was originally rejected by several studios for being “too risky.”
- The murder scenes were filmed with minimal cuts to maintain realism without exploitation.
Why Watch?
Because it confronts prejudice without sensationalism, tells a true story with empathy, and features one of the most powerful performances in modern cinema. It challenges viewers emotionally and ethically, forcing us to reflect on identity, human rights, and systemic violence.
Director’s Other Works
- Stop-Loss (2008)
- Carrie (2013)
- American Woman (2018)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Monster (2003)
- The Crying Game (1992)
- Moonlight (2016)
- A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story (2006)
- Milk (2008)
