Boy's Don't Cry by Moira Sullivan
USA - 1999
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Movie Review By Moira Sullivan
After the Oscars, Boys Don't Cry should be a must for viewers with the stunning performance of Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena. The film explores the senseless murder of this young Ohio transsexual. Director Kimberly Peirce was recently in Paris at the Creteil International Women's film festival (2000) to present the film at a special advance premiere before release in France. She answered to charges by Lana Tisdel, Brandon's girlfriend at the time of his death, that the film did not represent the facts, arguing that she had done research since 1994 and that with the multiple witnesses, stories constantly shifted. She explained she had been sold the rights to the film by Lana and the way she presented the hard facts of this tragedy was her call. She claimed that Brandon was denied the choice for how he would have lived his life had it not been cut short. The title Boy’s Don’t Cry came from a remark by Brandon that during his torture by John Lotter and Tom Nissen that he didnt cry because boys were not supposed to do that.
Four years ago, said Peirce, she could not have made this film and thought it was spectacular to see the Oscars flash the subject of the story across America and around the world.
© 2000 - Moira Sullivan - Air Date: 4/00
