Boys don't cry videorecording Fox Searchlight Pictures and the Independent Film Channel Productions present a Killer Films/Hart-Sharp Entertainment production ; a Kimberly Pierce film ; produced by Jeffrey Sharp ... [et al.] ; written by Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen ; directed by Kimberly Peirce.

Originally released as a motion picture, c1999.

Rated R.

Boys Don't Cry is a 1999 American biographical film directed by Kimberly Peirce. Brandon Teena is a young trans man whose birth name was Teena Renae Brandon.When Brandon is discovered to be transgender by a former girlfriend's brother, he receives death threats. Soon after, he is involved in a bar fight and is evicted from his cousin's trailer. Brandon moves to Falls City, Nebraska, where he befriends ex-convicts John Lotter and Tom Nissen, and their friends Candace and Lana Tisdel. Brandon becomes romantically involved with Lana, who is initially unaware both of his anatomy and his troubled past. The two make plans to move to Memphis, where Brandon will manage Lana's karaoke singing career. Eventually, they kiss during a date night which ends with them having sex.
The police detain Brandon on charges that arose prior to his relocation; they place him in the women's section of the Falls City prison. Lana bails Brandon out and asks why he was placed in a women's prison. Brandon attempts to lie to her, saying he was born a hermaphrodite and will soon receive genital reconstruction surgery, but Lana stops him, declaring her love for Brandon regardless of his gender. However, while Brandon is in prison, Candace finds a number of documents listing Brandon's birth name, Teena Brandon, and she and her friends react to this news with shock and disgust. They enter Brandon's room, search among Brandon's things, and discover some transgender literature that confirms their suspicions. Tom and John violently confront Brandon, forcing him to remove his pants and reveal his genitals. They try to make Lana look, but she shields her eyes and turns away.

Cinematographer, Jim Denault; editors, Lee Percy, Tracy Granger; music, Nathan Larson.

Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III, Alison Folland, Alicia Goranson, Matt McGrath, Rob Campbell, Jeannetta Arnette.

VHS; stereo, Dolby surround.

Closed-captioned for the hearing impaired.

Academy Award: Best actress (Swank); Golden Globe: Best actress; Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best actress; Best supporting actress (Sevigny)