More than 30 years ago, a groundbreaking film called The Crying Game, directed by Neil Jordan, brought the spotlight to a lead transgender character, Dil, played by Jaye Davidson. The film follows the story of a British soldier, Jody, who is taken hostage by the IRA and forms a close bond with his captor, Fergus. As the story unfolds, Fergus finds himself entangled in Jody’s world and develops a relationship with Jody’s partner, Dil, who is revealed to be a transgender woman.
Initially, the filmmakers had planned to cast a woman in the role of Dil, but Jaye Davidson, a model discovered at a party, ultimately secured the part. When The Crying Game was released in the U.S. in 1992 by Miramax, its clever marketing strategy kept Dil’s identity a secret, leading to significant box office success and six Oscar nominations, including best picture and supporting actor for Davidson.
Despite facing challenges with its political themes in the U.K., the film resonated with American audiences, who were more intrigued by the gender issues explored in the story. Jaye Davidson, who only appeared in one other film before retiring from acting, expressed confidence that The Crying Game would continue to resonate with intelligent and open-minded viewers, regardless of political climate.
For more Hollywood news and insights, subscribe to The Hollywood Reporter magazine.
Source link
