Film Review 
Bogdan Honciuc 

“Boys Don’t Cry” 
US, 1999 
Directed by: Kimberly Peirce 
Written by: Andy Bienen 
Cast: Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, and Peter Sarsgaard 

Brandon used to be a boy like any other boy, who was forced by fate to bear, everyday, the torment of living inside a body that he rejected and hid from the others and from himself. This denial of the external self only brought him trouble, but he was determined to survive in this hostile world that didn’t know his secret, because it was a secret that no one could understand. Until one sad day when, violently and irrefutably undressed by a society that refused to understand, believe, but still wanted to see, Brandon had to admit the naked truth, without being let to deny anything. However, he refused, even then, to admit that he was a woman, though his body stood against him. He also refused when, raped by his former friends, he was begging them to stop - “Hey, but I’m Brandon - I’m Brandon, guys, I’m your friend”. 

Brandon Teena, this unhappy boy, with his faults and qualities, with his expectations and dreams, this boy who, eventually proved, by his generosity, kindness, his power to love, that he was a wonderful boy, - this boy was killed because he had been born in a female body.

 
 

You might think that I’m narrating you the story of a movie. Well, no. I’m telling you the story of Brandon Teena’s life. A boy who lead this life and was murdered because he had to live this way. I had heard that he had truly existed, but I never expected that this movie would make me feel him the way I did. The movie was produced with fewer means – which in the end was good, because it rather looks like a documentary - unsophisticated, simple, and accessible. An actress whom I’d never heard of before, but who devoted herself to the role so much that one understandably asks - where have you kept her, Hollywood? (The Academy Award is quite irrelevant really, as it’s clearly been a formality, she’s obviously deserved it). You have to see her as Brandon, lighting his cigarette, kissing Lana, and tidying his hair in the mirror... Hilary Swank manages not only to faultlessly build up a role, but also render a moving statement when being awarded the Oscar, after thanking Brandon Teena with tears in her eyes - “I pray for the day when we not only accept our differences, but we actually celebrate our diversity”. It’s Brandon’s message for the people who killed him, for the ones who either are unable or unwilling to accept a difference, as well as for the ones who have to suffer everyday because of this lack of intolerance.  

Unfortunately, his message has too many recipients among us.