Boys Don't Cry
- The Top 5 Must-See Lesbian Films
by Sarah Lee
Deciding on which
lesbian films I would consider to be in the top 5 is
sure to be a difficult choice for not only myself,
but for any lesbian film lover. There are many
elements that come to play for each movie. Sure,
anyone can play a role, but can they really live it?
Convincing the audience that there is more to the
role than just a few lines and captivating the
viewers is what breathes the life into many lesbian
films today.
Oscar Award-winning
Boys Don’t Cry is on my top five must see
lesbian films list. Directed by
Kimberly Pierce, the actors and actresses in
this movie bring to life the true story of
harassment and bigotry shown towards a transgender
teen, Teena Brandon. Actress
Hillary Swank (who won an Oscar for this role)
portrays Teena, who has such great inner conflicts
with herself and her sexuality, but eventually
chooses to live her life as Brandon. Brandon, falls
in love with Lana Tisdel, portrayed by
Chloe Sevigny. Life proved to be difficult for
Brandon, as he
was living in rural Kansas in the early 1990s, and
as a secretive transgender teen. Brandon moves in
with his aunt and uncle, as the living situation
with his father tends to be an unhealthy one. As
Brandon’s aunt begins to notice that he is coming
home late and eventually sees him with Lana in bed,
she tries her best to “fix” the situation and
discourages Brandon from such actions.
The powerful movie
takes riveting turns thru Brandon and Lana’s
relationship; including the inner turmoil that
Brandon has on not telling Lana that he is really a
girl. For Lana to find out the truth would be
devastating, as he fears that he would not be loved
anymore by his true love. Fights ensue throughout
the movie as people become more and more suspicious
of Brandon’s true identity. Ultimately, Brandon’s
identity is discovered, which ends up being his
demise at the end of the movie.
Knowing that
Boy’s Don’t Cry was based on a true story
about the search for following one’s soul, and the
brutal injustices that were rendered, can bring
anyone to the sad fact that there is still so much
that needs to be done today for awareness. Although
it may not be considered as a lesbian film as it
could easily be a movie about a transgender teen,
the awareness that the movie brought to the LGBT
community can not be outdone. With such riveting
movies as Boy’s Don’t Cry revealing the injustices
that many teens and adults face in life, there is
only sure to be much more lesbian-geared awareness
in the movies ahead.
Sarah “Lee” is
a freelance writer residing in Austin, Texas. She
has interviewed the likes of Kat Von D and Ross “the
Intern” Mathews, and has created hundreds of various
articles. She enjoys spending her spare time with
her wife of 5 years, her friends, family, and pets.
|
