Hollywood Flashback: How ‘The Crying Game’ Hit on a Secret to Success

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30 years prior to Emilia Pérez gaining prominence as an awards contender, another film starring a leading trans character sparked debate and Oscar consideration. The 1992 drama “The Crying Game,” directed by Neil Jordan, focuses on Jody (Forest Whitaker), who is held captive by the IRA but forms a bond with one of his captors, Fergus (Stephen Rea). As time passes, Fergus becomes deeply involved in Jody’s life and develops a romantic relationship with Dil (Jaye Davidson, making her debut), who is later revealed to be a transgender woman.

Initially, Jordan, a man born in Ireland, along with his team, aimed to find an actress for the role of Dil. However, they came across model Jayne-Ann Davis (known as Dil in the movie) at a social gathering. The film “The Crying Game,” despite not receiving much attention in the U.K., gained significant success when Miramax released it in the U.S. on November 25, 1992. Their strategic marketing kept the revelation of Dil’s identity as a trans woman hidden from audiences, which contributed to the film’s impressive earnings of $62 million (equivalent to approximately $140 million today), and six Oscar nominations including best picture and supporting actor for Davis. As stated by former Miramax executive Gerry Rich to The Hollywood Reporter, they managed to persuade journalists not to reveal the film’s ending, focusing instead on promoting the movie as a spectacle and public event.

2017 saw Jordan express during a panel that the political themes in the movie made it harder for audiences in the U.K. to connect, while Americans were more drawn to its exploration of “gender issues.” Meanwhile, Davidson, who had previously acted in only one other film before leaving the industry, expressed optimism about The Crying Game‘s potential success during Trump’s presidency: “There are always thoughtful and captivating individuals in any society, and it would resonate with them regardless of who the president is.

You can find this article in the January 9th edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To stay updated, consider subscribing.

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2025-01-11 22:24