The Crying Game - Umbrella Entertainment Collector's Edition

We can never escape our past. No matter where we go, no matter what name we adopt, we’ll still always be trapped with ourselves, and we’ll have to answer for our crimes. So learns Fergus (Stephen Rea) in The Crying Game. Fergus is a volunteer for the IRA, and he’s been tasked with watching over a British soldier that they’ve kidnapped. The soldier, Jody (Forest Whitaker), and Fergus begin to bond over the several days that they spend together, much to the chagrin of the IRA leadership. They understand that there’s a strong likelihood that they will have to kill Jody, and they believe that connecting with him is an unwise choice. Fergus, on the other hand, believes that treating him humanely in his final hours is the only right thing to do.

Jody and Fergus share a moment, accepting the inevitable. Jody asks Fergus to find a woman that he loves and to tell her that she was in his mind as he died. As Fergus takes Jody out to execute him, Jody runs. He is struck and killed instantly by a truck loaded with soldiers. There is a raid, and the IRA operatives are killed in the ensuing battle. Fergus escapes and flees to London under the assumed name “Jimmy”.

There, “Jimmy” seeks out Jody’s love, Dil (Jaye Davidson), and quickly falls in love with her. He intended, I believe, to tell her everything upfront, that she was in Jody’s thoughts in the moments before she died, but upon meeting her and forming such an intimate connection with her, he was unable to. They fall into a relationship–he, enamored with her; she, open and appreciative to his gentlemanliness. They are both what they are seeking in a human attachment in this moment in their lives, struggling with the death of Jody in different ways. Dil misses Jody and Fergus/Jimmy is being torn to shreds over the guilt of being responsible for his death.

Fergus and Dil both have secrets. At the time The Crying Game was released in 1992, the reveal of Dil’s sexual/gender identity was considered shocking. Today, it is less so, but the bond formed between the two packs a similar punch over thirty years later. Viewed through the lens of today, I think too much emphasis is placed on putting labels on Dil and her identity. Is she trans? Perhaps. Perhaps with more understanding, Dil would have understood herself as trans. But given the context of the film, Dil seems to be impossible to label. She simply is. She is herself, confidently and magnetically, with an all-time great screen performance from Jaye Davidson, for which he received an Oscar nomination. After Fergus learns Dil’s truth, it’s not long before Dil learns his secret because no one can escape their past. Fergus’s past comes back to haunt him, violently, and tear him from the happiness he’s just found. 

The Crying Game isn’t a perfect movie, with some plotting on autopilot and twists and turns we saw coming from miles away. But this movie isn’t about those twists or those familiar beats. It’s about the intimacy between people–between Fergus and Dil, between Fergus and Jody–tied up in a bloody, political conflict between Ireland and England. In those moments, the movie reaches a tonal perfection. We sit on the edge of our seats, wondering what’s next for these people. Even the ending, while not a fairytale ending, lands on a bittersweet note that perfectly encapsulates all of its themes about our pasts, our identities, and coming to terms with them.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
The Crying Game, from Umbrella Entertainment, makes its way to Blu-ray in both a standard edition and collector’s edition. Both versions include the film, plus supplemental features, on a single-disc release in a standard case with original artwork, and a removable slipcover containing classic artwork from its UK release. The collector’s edition includes a rigid case containing its iconic poster artwork, a 48-page book with behind-the-scenes, experiences and art, eight art cards, and an A3 reversible poster.

The 1080p high-definition video transfer of The Crying Game on this disc release is aces, and does as well a job as you could possibly expect. Judging the film’s look and aesthetic by modern metrics, a lot of viewers might be taken aback by how soft it all looks–no doubt an intentional choice by cinematographer Ian Wilson to enhance the dreaminess of the story. For interior shots, there is a liberal use of ambient fog and soft lighting, which give everything a nearly blurry focus. Exterior shots, on the other hand, are razor sharp and nighttime sequences are dazzling in composition and contrast. The movie was shot on 35mm film and this transfer maintains an excellent filmic look, with a fine layer of film grain present throughout. To grade this film on how well the Blu-ray looks, in honoring the film’s original look, it does a fantastic job.

The Crying Game comes equipped with two audio options: A stellar 2.0 stereo option for purists looking to maintain an audio mix to its original release, and a dynamite 5.1 surround mix. Both options are encoded in DTS-HD MA. I toggled back and forth between both options for the purpose of this review, and they’re both great for what they set out to accomplish. The stereo mix, of course, is a front-only presentation, with those two channels perfectly mixed, with sound effects like gunshots booming with intensity. The surround mix is appropriately atmospheric with traffic noise, helicopter blades, etc., piping in through the rear channels. On both mixes, dialogue clarity is favored first and foremost.

As is always the case with these Umbrella releases, The Crying Game comes packed with special features–both new and legacy supplements. Fans won’t have anything to cry about in this department.

• Audio Commentary - Director Neil Jordan
• Selected Scene Commentary - Filmmaker and Author Jane Giles
• The Big Secret (HD 24:15) - 2024 Interview with Producer Stephen Woolley 
• The Making of The Crying Game (SD 50:24) 
• Alternate Ending (SD 4:55) - With optional commentary by Neil Jordan
• Northern Troubles Featurette (SD 8:46)
• Modern Day at Madam Jojo's Featurette (SD 5:19)
• Trailers

The Crying Game, like all great art, has evolved with society’s perception of all things gender, sexuality and identity. While I don’t believe the film would be made today, or if it was not in the same way, that’s okay. A film is a reflection on the time in which it was released and The Crying Game was instrumental in raising awareness and giving a voice to a disenfranchised people. Dil is treated with decency and respect, portrayed powerfully by Jaye Davidson. Umbrella’s release is excellent and comes Highly Recommended.