Boys Don't Cry
Reviewed by Bruce Cantwell
Teena Brandon or Brandon Teena (Hilary Swank) is a boy in a girl's body. S/he tries her best to disguise her biological identity and lives life as a boy.
In her late teens, this places her in an interesting position. She's not good at being a hormone enraged male, chasing cars and pulling macho stunts. She is, however, a success with the ladies because, unlike the guys her age, she understands them.
The mechanics of the story work a little like those of Romeo and Juliet. Lana (Chloë Sevigny) and Brandon are star-crossed lovers who are challenged not by their families but by their primary sexual characteristics.
Brandon meets Lana through Candace (Alicia Goranson) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) who get her into and out of a bar fight.
John (an ex-con) is tied to Lana through a sexual relationship with her mom (Jeanetta Arnette). As a thirteen year old, Lana wrote letters to John in prison. His feelings for the girl are paternal verging on lustful.
I first came across Brandon Teena's story last year in a documentary. Though that film wasn't nearly as well realized, one can readily understand the story's appeal to a filmmaker.
It's high concept (teenage girl with sexual identity crisis lives live as a boy). It appeals to prurient interests (how does a girl make love to a girl without being found out?). It has an explosive ending.
The only surprising thing is that director Kim Pierce was able to make it as an independent feature without sacrificing verisimilitude to an ill-conceived star-turn or two.
What could have been over-sentimentalized Hollywood schlock is much more affecting because it doesn't play to the lowest common denominator. Instead, it's a better film than any nominated for Academy Awards.
Boys Don't Cry
Reviewed by Bruce Cantwell
Teena Brandon or Brandon Teena (Hilary Swank) is a boy in a girl's body. S/he tries her best to disguise her biological identity and lives life as a boy.
In her late teens, this places her in an interesting position. She's not good at being a hormone enraged male, chasing cars and pulling macho stunts. She is, however, a success with the ladies because, unlike the guys her age, she understands them.
The mechanics of the story work a little like those of Romeo and Juliet. Lana (Chloë Sevigny) and Brandon are star-crossed lovers who are challenged not by their families but by their primary sexual characteristics.
Brandon meets Lana through Candace (Alicia Goranson) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) who get her into and out of a bar fight.
John (an ex-con) is tied to Lana through a sexual relationship with her mom (Jeanetta Arnette). As a thirteen year old, Lana wrote letters to John in prison. His feelings for the girl are paternal verging on lustful.
I first came across Brandon Teena's story last year in a documentary. Though that film wasn't nearly as well realized, one can readily understand the story's appeal to a filmmaker.
It's high concept (teenage girl with sexual identity crisis lives live as a boy). It appeals to prurient interests (how does a girl make love to a girl without being found out?). It has an explosive ending.
The only surprising thing is that director Kim Pierce was able to make it as an independent feature without sacrificing verisimilitude to an ill-conceived star-turn or two.
What could have been over-sentimentalized Hollywood schlock is much more affecting because it doesn't play to the lowest common denominator. Instead, it's a better film than any nominated for Academy Awards.
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