Abstract
This paper will clearly explain about the Prejudice and discrimination about the American English Movie Boy’s Don’t cry which was released in the year 1999. By taking the real story of an American trans man who was raped and murdered- Brandon Teena, the movie was taken in a clear and interesting way. Kimberely Pierce, who is a director of this famous flick, won an Oscar award. The movie has been considered as a thematically rich love story between two ill-fated lovers, as the story of Bonnie and Clyde. The family is about the search for freedom and identity in a society where diversity is rarely accepted. The critics and academics have attributed the movie's success to the fact that it argued for tolerance of sexual diversity by depicting the relationship between two unlikely people.
INTRODUCTION
Boys Don't Cry; the 1999 American movie is clearly something that one doesn't see everyday.The movie is based on the real-life story of Brandon Teena, who was an American trans man, raped and murdered. One of the many virtues of "Boys Don't Cry," is that never once does it supply the tiresome phrase, "I am a man trapped in a woman's body." Its motto instead could be, "Girls just want to have fun." The movie is directed by Kimberely Pierce and has Hilary Swank playing Brandon Teena, who won an Oscar for Best Actress in the 72nd Academy Awards. The independent romantic drama film also stars Chloe Sevigny as Lana Tisdel, Brandon's love interest; Peter Sarsgaard and Brendan Sexton III as John Lotter and Tom Nissen respectively, both ex-convicts; Alicia Goranson as Candace, a mutual friend.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
The movie begins with Brandon, driving in the night. Her cousin cuts her hair. She tries to make sure that it is short enough. Next, she stuffs up a sock in the front of her jeans, thus ensuring that she becomes he. Before Brandon enters the skating rink, he is warned by his cousin to control his behavior. Brandon hardly listens and goes in a way just to try his luck, and yes, he is lucky.Later he is found kissing her in front of her house and being a gentleman, he tells her he won't leave her until he knows that she's safely inside. Later, Brandon is chased by a group of guys accusing him of having slept with the girl he met in the rink. They tagged him with homosexual related insults and threats. Brandon enters his cousin's home, and his cousin tries to talk sense into him and tells him that he isn't a boy so he should stop pretending like he is one. He reminds him that earlier he was locked up by his mother, and he wants his money back and him to vacate his place.In the very next scene, Brandon is seen in a bar where he meets Candace. A few minutes later he gets into a fight with a gigantic guy, who was hitting on Candace. Brandon being physically not brawny was easily overwhelmed until Candace's friends, John and her family joined the fight. They all flee from the bar and meet up Tom. Next morning Brandon has no idea as to where he is. He calls his cousin who asks him to come back. Candace with a baby girl in her hand comes in and tells him that from Lincoln, Nebraska, he is now in the town of Falls City. Candace has a secret crush on Brandon. Through his new friends, he meets Lana, Candace's sisters and falls for her the moment he sees her. He smiles like a moron peering at her when she is singing karaoke accompanying her sisters. Lana hardly pays any attention to him.Brandon ignores certain legal summons. He carries the court summons in his pocket which bears his real name Teena Brandon. Brandon has a period but his outer appearance refuses to show. Hence, he steals some tampons from a gas station. There he sees Lana, who was busy looking at the ring. He then buys some beer, and saves her from a guy who was advancing himself on her. He carries her back home safe, tucks her mother and then her in bed and leaves the room keeping the ring on the table, by her bed.Next morning Brandon meets up with them again, meets Lana's mother too .All of them set out, and Brandon had to drive as John was heavily drunk .They raced their car, but the police get them and Brandon gets a speeding ticket and is asked to appear in the court. Brandon shows up at Lana's workplace and she notices him. She sneaks out, and then the two of them get physically involved on a blanket, in a field near the plant. She realizes that Brandon is a girl, but that doesn't stop her. Later she is seen telling her sisters about the whole experience.
Brandon goes to seeks shelter at Candace's place. He burns all photographs of the group. Lana's mother confronts John about the rape who denies it. The mother understands the truth and leaves speechless.
Later, Brandon speaks about his mother and cousins to Lana’s mother, and asks her if she will visit them. And to a surprise, she replied yes. She packed her luggage and was ready to leave. Brandon jumped in her room through the window. Just then, John appears holding a gun in his hand and asks Lana's mother if she had seen Brandon. She tells him that he is at Candace's place. Lana tried to distract them and asked if they would go for a hangout with her. They agreed to her, and she drove them away. Instead of going to the bar, they moved to Candace's place. Having reached their destination, they enquired if Brandon was there. Candace was all on tears, and she begged John and Tom not to hurt the baby.
John shoots Brandon, and Tom shoots Candace and following to which he stabs Teena. Next morning Lana's mother finds her sleeping on Brandon's dead body, displaying the ring on her finger that Brandon gave her. Lana finds a letter in Brandon's pocket that says that, the time she will read this he will be in Lincoln and will be waiting for her and would love her forever. She is seen driving a car in the end.
The ending states that John was convicted. Tom had collaborated with the police and testified against John. Lana had a baby girl and returned to Fall City to raise her.
CONCLUSION
The movie has been considered as a thematically rich love story between two ill-fated lovers, as the story of Bonnie and Clyde. The family is about the search for freedom and identity in a society where diversity is rarely accepted. The critics and academics have attributed the movie's success to the fact that it argued for tolerance of sexual diversity by depicting the relationship between two unlikely people. Lana didn't have any guys being chivalrous to her ever before. She finds all her requirements in Brandon, i.e. a guy who is nice to talk to, who treats her like she has never been treated before. She had easily fallen for him, and there was no reason she shouldn’t be. She doesn't consider his sexual identity crisis to come in the way of her love. Many have compared Brandon and Lana's relationship and subsequent drama to classic and modern romances like Romeo and Juliet, often using the term star-crossed lovers owing to the tragic aspect of the love story.Freedom is an important theme in the storyline of the movie .Brandon is trying to discover himself all throughout the movie. He couldn't even have his own mother to accept him for what he is. He didn't hype up his situation he was doing karaoke, having some fun, meeting a girl, just living a plain and simple life. Guess it was too hard for the real world to accept that he was actually happy in his own skin.
References:
1. http://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/reviews/2126/ , Peter Rainer, Jan 1-2000
2. http://www.imdb.com/reviews/216/21699.html, James Sanford, June 21-2002
3. http://www.shoestring.org/mmi_revs/boys-dont-cry.html, Moira Sullivan, May 11-2003
