The Crying Game is all about human nature. Something I was never aware of, because I only ever knew about its shocking twist. Spoilers were unavoidable since shows like The Simpsons and movies like Shallow Hal both gave away the big reveal. Much like Soylent Green, I doubt I would’ve seen The Crying Game without knowing the twist ahead of time. The Crying Game is mostly about a volunteer member of the Irish Republican Army during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The movie deals with a variety of controversial subjects that practically guaranteed its nomination for Best Picture.
Nationality is most present when Fergus struggles with remaining loyal to his country. Race is apparent when the black British Jody is held hostage at the beginning. Miranda Richardson is especially cruel as the woman who lures him in. The bond Fergus forms with Jody showcases a brief but memorable performance from Forrest Whitaker. When their friendship is tragically cut short, Fergus tries to make a mends by comforting Jody’s girlfriend Dil back in London. Dil is a hairdresser who frequents a bar and ultimately sparks a romance with Fergus under the alias “Jimmy.”
Sexuality is the most major theme, because (SPOILER ALERT!) Dil is actually a man. The character is transgender, but first time actor Jaye Davidson plays the part. His androgynous look and feminine British accent probably fooled a lot of people back in 1992. Davidson’s transformative performance earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but Stephen Rea’s subtle performance was equally deserving of a Best Actor nomination. The stories complex nature did earn it an Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay. The Crying Game is a matter of fact thriller that feels realistic.
Fergus and Dil in a bar
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I remember hearing a lot this while in High School, particularly the shocker when it turns out Dil is a man in transition to becoming a woman. I’ve always believed the shocker was really about Dil lying to everyone about his/her identity, granted this came out in 92 when it was still a somewhat taboo subject, but I’ve heard from an interview with two transgender people that when you go through the transition and continually omit that fact from others, your harming both yourself and others.
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1992 was probably the best year for it to come out (figuratively speaking).
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