The Pioneering Impact and Complex Legacy of 'Boys Don't Cry'

As part of his ongoing look at groundbreaking films from 1999, host Scott Detrow speaks with Kimberly Peirce, the writer-director of Boys Don't Cry.

The film starred Hillary Swank, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Brandon Teena, a young transgender man searching for himself and love in Nebraska.

Peirce talks about the challenges she faced in getting the movie made and her efforts to find a transgender man to play the lead role in the film.

Detrow also speaks with critic Willow Catelyn Maclay, who sees the film's legacy as complicated.

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