Kimberly Peirce's directorial debut tells the gut-wrenching true story of Teena Brandon, a Midwestern female who disguised herself as a man. Relocating to Falls City, Nebraska, from Lincoln, she managed to convince her newfound group of friends that she was Brandon Teena. The film treats these events with a painful objectivism, as Brandon's relationships with her friends John, Tom, Kate, Candace, and Lana unfold toward their inevitably horrific conclusion. A shining example of independent filmmaking at its most impassioned.
Hilary Swank appeared in the short film THE AUDITION with her husband, Chad Lowe, who also wrote and directed it.
Review 1:
"...Carefully crafted and quite moving....Swank is truly worthy of all the awards..." -- 3 out of 5 stars
Source: Premiere
p.96-98 05/01/2000
Review 2:
"...An effective and emotionally powerful movie....Hilary Swank is superb..."
Source: Box Office
p.153 11/01/1999
Review 3:
"...Unflinching, uncompromising, made with complete conviction and rare skill....A passionate story about the price of dreams..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C2 10/22/1999
Review 4:
"...One of the best films of the year..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.27 10/22/1999
Review 5:
"...Compelling and relevant....[A] devastatingly powerful tale..."
Source: Variety
p.61-2
Review 6:
"...[Swank's] performance quickly takes off on a life of its own. The actor/role synergy ratchets up a movie that's already working to startling heights..."
Source: USA Today
p.9E 10/08/1999
Review 7:
Ranked #7 in Rolling Stone's "Ten Best Movies of 1999" -- "...Hilary Swank's sensational performance is unique and unforgettable..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.63-4 01/20/2000
Review 8:
"...It's Hilary Swank who truly amazes..."
Source: Total Film
p.122 04/01/2001