3 GENERATIONS
US, 2015, 93 minutes, Colour.
Elle Fanning, Naomi Watts, Susan Sarandon, Linda Emond, Tate Donovan, Sam Trammell.
Directed by Gaby Dellal.
There have been many documentaries on gender transitions. There have also been a number of films over the decades with stories about gender change, some speculative, others based on actual situations, especially Dr Renee Richards, the tennis player, in Second Serve, with Vanessa Redgrave in the title role. More recently, there was a British miniseries with Anna Friel, Butterfly, about a young boy and transition to being a girl. This is also the theme of A Kid like Jake, with Clare Danes and Jim Parsons.
The three generations of the title are female, grandmother played by Susan Sarandon (with a complication that she is in fact, lesbian, and living with a partner, Linda Emond), mother played by Naomi Watts (with a complication that she was not married to the father of her daughter and his brother is also involved), daughter played by Elle Fanning. But, Ray (who does not want to be Ramona) states that she always wanted to be a boy.
The film has a very strong performance by Elle Fanning, this one rather early in her varied and successful career.
The film probes the background for Ray, going to therapy with her mother, visits to doctors, the need for parents’ signatures because Ray is 16. Her grandmother does not believe that she should change gender. Her mother worries about the future.
The drama also leads to the mother tracking down her former boyfriend, visiting him, discovering his wife and new family, and his unwillingness to sign a document. Later, Ray visits him, also discovers the family and siblings. The film becomes rather melodramatic, with grandmother and driving to meet with the father, some further revelations of the truth, Ray with some hysteria, but eventually the signing of the papers.
The lives of this family are frantic and messy. But, the film ends on a hopeful note, and, as with so many French films, reconciliation happens over a meal where everybody has gathered.
The film was released in 2016 but, while gender issues are sometimes hotly debated, the discussions have moved on.
1. Title? The focus on the three women? The presence of women in the family? Ray and the decision to become a boy?
2. The New York settings, the grandmother's home, the others living in the house? The layout, rooms, privacy? The visit to the country home? The streets? School? Musical score?
3. Ray's story: initial wish, wanting to be a boy? At 16? The decision, the therapy with her/his mother, doctor's advice, haircut, appearance, covering breasts? Male behaviour? Recognition at school? The attraction to the girl, a comment about his being a girl? The mugging, the black eye, keeping the phone?
4. Ray's mother, Maggie, her background, bringing him up, the absence of father, the name on the birth certificate, the later revelation about Matthew? Maggie, not signing the documents, worried? The repercussions for Ray, continued emotional tensions? Outbursts?
5. Grandmother, her partnership with Fran and work at the United Nations? Grandmother saying things and backtracking? Bringing up Maggie, the tense relationship? Not wanting Ray to change to male?
6. The pressure on Maggie to sign, reasons for her reluctance, imagining the future and raise change of mind? Going to the office, getting the documentation, to find Craig? Her
visit, the discovery of his family? His reaction to the news? Reluctance?
7. Ray going to see him, discovering the family, the interactions, meeting the children, the discussions at the table, boy in girl's form? The meal? Her mother discovering she was there, the drive, abandoning her mother and Fran at the service station? The intrusion? The arguments, the revelation about Matthew (and her early seeing him and crashing the car)? Ray screaming? Craig and his signing the documents, Maggie signing?
8. The return, Matthew and his visits and the discussions, both brothers arriving? The revelation Maggie, her insecurities?
9. Ray, the response to the signing, Joy? her music?
10. The resolution, everybody making some kind of concession, an outbreak of peace amongst them all, a meal sequence to show the reunion and reconciliation?
11. The issue of transgender? For the transgender person, especially young and in teenage? The reaction of family? The giving of permissions? This film throwing light on issues?
