3 Generations (2015)

After Ray decides to transition from female to male, Ray's mother, Maggie, must come to terms with the decision while tracking down Ray's biological father to get his legal consent.

Director:

Gaby Dellal

Writers:

Nikole Beckwith, Gaby Dellal

Stars:

Naomi Watts, Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elle Fanning	...	Ray
Linda Emond	...	Frances
Susan Sarandon	...	Dolly
Naomi Watts	...	Maggie
Andrew Polk	...	Dr. Brillstein
Marcos A. Gonzalez	...	John the Doorman
Antonio Ortiz	...	Taylor
Tessa Albertson	...	Spoon
Marquis Rodriguez	...	Jesse
Gameela Wright	...	DSS Worker
Jordan Carlos	...	Jake
Elle Winter	...	Lola Johnson
Lucca De Oliveira	...	Boy in Alley
Francesca Keller	...	Girl in Alley
Jinn S. Kim	...	Man on Fire Escape

Storyline

Family living under one roof in New York must deal with a life-changing transformation by one that ultimately affects them all. Ray is a teenager who has come to the realization that he isn't meant to be a girl and has decided to transition from female to male. His single mother, Maggie, must track down Ray's biological father to get his legal consent to allow Ray's transition. Dolly, Ray's lesbian grandmother, is having a hard time accepting that she now has a grandson. They must each confront their own identities and learn to embrace change and their strength as a family in order to ultimately find acceptance and understanding.

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Plot Keywords:

female to male transition | gender transition | transgender | lesbian grandmother | single mother | 

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Taglines:

In this family change is relative

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, some sexual references and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

29 September 2016 (Czech Republic)

Also Known As:

About Ray

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,131, 5 May 2017, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$66,371, 19 May 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Beach Films, InFilm Productions, IM Global

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In April 2016, director Gaby Dellal revealed on Instagram that she was re-editing the film. The new cut of the film, released in international markets since late 2016, runs 92 minutes, as opposed to 87 minutes of the initial version that screened at the Toronto premiere in September 2015.

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Quotes

[First lines]
Ray: [narrating] Every year I blow on my candles and I make the same wish. I wish I was a boy.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Liev Schreiber/Elle Fanning/Anthony Sadler/Vince Staples (2015)

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Soundtracks

Tiny Elevator
Written and Performed by Mike Gallant (as Michael Gallant)
Courtesy of Gallant Music LLC

User Reviews

This is an incredible film and is what true story telling is all about.

The story is complex: Ray is a boy who was born into a girl's body. Craig and Matthew are his biological and emotional fathers, Frances and Dolly are his grandmother and lesbian lover, and Maggie, his long suffering Mum who tries to manage the whole family. Ray is going through the process of becoming a boy and the film follows him through part of the journey with all the pitfalls and emotions there is. The dialogue is genuine, the direction is superb, the acting is first class, even from Naomi Watts who plays Maggie, an actor I don't really like but she takes on this role competently. Elle Fanning shines out like an acting sun, eclipsing everyone around her and becoming the hinge pin that the entire story revolves around. She displays almost every single emotion a human is capable of and acts far, far beyond her 17 years. She earned £65,000 from this movie, that's a pittance for her performance, it's probably one of the 10 best I've ever seen. Don't miss this, it will stay in your memory for a long time.