REEL FACE: | REAL FACE: |
Hilary Swank
Born: July 30, 1974 Birthplace: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA | Brandon Teena (a.k.a. Teena Brandon)
Born: December 12, 1972 Birthplace: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Death: December 31, 1993, Humboldt, Nebraska (murdered) |
Chloë Sevigny
Born: November 18, 1974 Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, USA | Lana Tisdel
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Peter Sarsgaard
Born: March 7, 1971 Birthplace: Belleville, Illinois, USA | John Lotter
Born: May 31, 1971 |
Brendan Sexton III
Born: February 21, 1980 Birthplace: Staten Island, New York, USA | Marvin Thomas "Tom" Nissen
Born: October 22, 1971 |
Alicia Goranson
Born: June 22, 1974 Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, USA | Lisa Lambert
Born: 1969 Death: December 31, 1993, Humboldt, Nebraska (murdered) |
No. The real Lana Tisdel sued the filmmakers, claiming that they depicted her as a drug-addicted drunk, citing that the movie makes references to her as "lazy, white trash and a skanky snake." The film also falsely depicts Tisdel falling asleep at the murder scene and "doing nothing about it after it has occurred," as stated in Tisdel's lawsuit.
The filmmakers did not interview Brandon Teena's mother, JoAnn, for the film that they were making about her transgender son. JoAnn was upset that they also neglected to interview Brandon's close friends and relatives. -The Associated Press
Brandon's mother, JoAnn Brandon, was upset that Hilary Swank referred to her transgender son in her speech as "Brandon Teena," her biological daughter's male name. "That set me off," JoAnn Brandon said. "She should not stand up there and thank my child. I get tired of people taking credit for what they don't know."
His mother last spoke to him on December 30th, the day before Brandon's death. His mother said that she had clearly spoke to a woman. -The Associated Press
An 18-year-old high school student at the time of the film's release, Sarah Nissen, cousin of attacker Marvin Thomas Nissen, said that everything that Tom told her about the actual events indicates that the film's storyline is wrong. "There's none of it that's right," she said. "It was just weird."
![]() Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena | ![]() Hilary Swank at the 2002 MTV Movie Awards |
Listen to a recording of Brandon Teena being questioned by the police, which occurred when he went to report that he had been raped by John Lotter and Tom Nissen. Also, view the Boys Don't Cry movie trailer.
WATCH Brandon Teena Interview - Questioned by Sheriff Charles Laux (audio)Former Richardson County, Nebraska sheriff
Charles Laux questions Brandon Teena on
December 25, 1993. Brandon was reporting
that he had been raped by John Lotter and
Tom Nissen. The police refused to make an
arrest for the alleged rape, citing a lack
of evidence. Six days later, Brandon
Teena, along with two witnesses, was
murdered by Lotter and Nissen. Brandon's
mother, JoAnn Brandon, sued Richardson
County and Sheriff Charles Laux for
failing to prevent Brandon's death. JoAnn
won the case. A judge determined that the
police questioning of Brandon Teena was
demeaning, accusatory and intimidating. |
WATCH Boys Don't Cry TrailerWatch the Boys Don't Cry movie
trailer for the film based on the real
life events of a Nebraska girl who changed
her identity to become a man. Shortly
after her 21st birthday, her life was cut
short by two men. Upon learning her true
identity, they assaulted her and took her
life to keep her quiet. The movie stars
Hilary Swank and Chloë Sevigny. |