after coming out to myself I made the mistake of watching Boy's Don't Cry on Netflix because I was looking for anything related to being Transgender that wasn't totally disrespectful to trans people. I thought it was well done but was is one of the most disturbing films if have watched because I am having to live in a very conservative semi-rural/rural area like he (Brandon Teena) did.

I watched some of it on Netflix the same reason as you did. I didn't finish it as I found it boring and not being a good enough representation of a trans guy as he was a bit of an A hole. I think the film Trans America did a much better job of representing a trans person, even though it was played by a cis woman playing a trans woman. Btw, sorry about where you live, I can't imagine how hard that is.

Although the movie is alright, I don't really like how they wrote out one of the victims. That seems disrespectful to me.
I've also had the unpleasant experience of meeting someone who judged Tisdel due to scenes in this fictional movie that had been different from what happened in real life.

I as a general rule am wary of any film with a transgender protagonist since it seems 90% them die via hate crime in the third act. I for once would like to see a movie about a trans person that does not revolve around how oppressed we are. When that's all you see in the media, you start getting the impression that any kind of contentment in our lives is abnormal. I might give Transamerica a try when I have the ability, though.

I love the film.  And I actually like the fact that the portrayal isn't absolutely positive...Brandon wasn't a perfect guy, he was short sighted and a bit of an ->-bleeped-<- sometimes.  I think that in portraying him as imperfect, human, and flawed, it does something very few trans-themed films have ever done even today.  It feels genuine to me, more so than Transamerica!

I loved this film too.  It made me cry and I too felt it was quite authentic.  Definitely a tear-jerker.


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I have been looking to see that one and I even have it setup to be watched when I get time.  But I also am looking for others, I have seen a few like Transamerica and Different for Girls, but I really would like to see if there are any others out there.  I know there are a few but really have not found a list.

Quote from: androgynouspainter26 on November 22, 2014, 08:38:48 PMBrandon wasn't a perfect guy, he was short sighted and a bit of an ->-bleeped-<- sometimes. 

...and a liar and a thief and a forger...

Quote from: androgynouspainter26 on November 22, 2014, 08:38:48 PM
I think that in portraying him as imperfect, human, and flawed, it does something very few trans-themed films have ever done even today.  It feels genuine to me, more so than Transamerica!

Traditionally, trans characters have been portrayed as DEEPLY flawed, pathological, monstrous. Brandon might be a step forward, but I don't see him as that much of an improvement. And in the same vein, the character in Transamerica was actually pretty messed up. So many people talked about what a positive portrayal that was, but I sure didn't see it.

Quote from: Arch link=topic=178032.msg1579261#msg157926e=1417385826
...and a liar and a thief and a forger...

Traditionally trans characters have been portrayed as DEEPLY flawed, pathological, monstrous. Brandon might be a step forward, but I don't see him as that much of an improvement. And in the same vein, the character in Transamerica was actually pretty messed up. So many people talked about what a positive portrayal that was, but I sure didn't see it.

In Transamerica she was messed up but in a 'normal' way. She wasn't a forger or an ->-bleeped-<- like Brandon, but was dealing with the same problems that a cis person usually goes through. In a job she doesn't like, family problems. And when she found out she had a son she just couldn't tell him bcos she wasn't who she wanted to be in life. Both body wise AND still being quite directionless in life generally and not being a good enough role model for him. Anyone can relate to that no matter their sexuality or gender. Her being transgender wasn't the main theme of the film unlike boys don't cry. That's why it's a positive portrayal imo.

Really?  I mean, he broke the law but I always saw him as a pretty lovable guy.  And don't forget-he was real.  Felicity Huffman's charichter was not.  Brandon Teena did all of these things, and saying his very existence is a bad representation of trans people is sorta not good, right?  He did some things to be ashamed of for sure, but he was kind, and cared about his girlfriend a lot.  He was a decent human being, and he was real.  I was a lot more offended by Transamerica, because she didn't feel real to me.  Brendon-I felt like I understood him.

From my perspective, there is more to this movie than just the transgender aspect, it is also a film about rural/semi-rural America and some of the problems people there face with intolerance, poverty, a shortage of genuine opportunity, and a cycle of crime and incarceration that can affect people who are poor and live in rural areas. I see Brandon's flaws as flaws that affect way too many men and women in poor rural areas, not as something that has anything to with him being transgender. BTW, he is far from the most flawed character in the movie, that (dis)honor goes to both law enforcement and his killers. I live in a somewhat rural area , and have been around way too many intolerant (and foolish) people and have had too many classmates that have been locked-up for way more  than having a joint or drinking a little too much.

loved the film but thought it was very powerful.didnt know it was a true story until the end of it.