SUBPLOTLY VIDEO — GRAND ST
--:--:--
ALL SHELVES·
Boys Don't Cry (1999) poster

Boys Don't Cry

dir. Kimberly Peirce · 1999

Feature
Identity Crisis
Mood
Dark / Melancholic
Look
gritty realism with a muted color palette
Structure
linear with flashbacks to reveal character backstory
Plot

Based on actual events. Brandon Teena is the popular new guy in a tiny Nebraska town. He hangs out with the guys, drinking, cussing, and bumper surfing, and he charms the young women, who've never met a more sensitive and considerate young man. Life is good for Brandon, now that he's one of the guys and dating hometown beauty Lana; however, he's forgotten to mention one important detail. It's not that he's wanted in another town for GTA and other assorted crimes, but that Brandon Teena was actually born a woman named Teena Brandon. When his best friends make this discovery, Brandon's life is ripped apart.

Why watch

"Boys Don't Cry" is a haunting exploration of identity and love, where the quest for authenticity collides with the harsh realities of societal norms. This gripping biopic invites viewers to confront the fragility of masculinity and the devastating consequences of intolerance.

Talking points
  • gender identity and societal norms
  • the impact of violence on marginalized communities
  • the search for belonging
  • the intersection of love and tragedy
Cultural context
late 1990s LGBTQ+ rights movementrural American lifegender identity discourse
Influenced by

Where this shelves

every shelf · back to the store