3 Generations

Sometimes, a movie has all good intentions but it fails to transform well on screen. And sometimes, its not all about bringing a core issue to the table but to also entertain the audience. It is not very easy to have a balance of the above two ingredients. I felt the movie above did a good balance. Actually at some point I felt like rather than dealing with the trans-issues , the film was more about family dram and about the mother dealing with her daughter wanting to convert. This film suffers the case of making sure entertainment taking over the core issue of gender dysphoria.

The film starts with Ray, born Ramona, 16 year old transgender teen discussing the process of converting with a doctor alongwith her single mom Maggie, and her lesbian grandmother and her partner. They all live together and are excited for the change. Though the grandmother is skeptical of this process, Maggie is convinced for her Ray. But is she really? When time comes to sign the paperwork, Maggie now needs to find Craig, an absentee father, whom Maggie hasn’t seen forever. Maggie discovers Craig to now be happily married, father of 3 and he refuses to sign the papers without understanding everything correctly. This angers Ray to no extent and he decides to show up at Craig’s place and says will not leave unless the papers are signed. A messy reunion happens, when Maggie also shows up and some secrets are revealed for the reasons behind spilt of Maggie and Craig. All’s well that ends well. Everyone works through their issues and get together once papers are signed and Ray can finally start the transition journey that he always longed for.

After I finished watching this film, it took me some time to decide whether to post the review here or not. The reason being, although the film on the onset seems like about Ray’s journey, I felt this was more about Maggie. The film focuses on her doubts and fears and how she goes around Craig and people surrounding to get that signature, just to avoid bringing mistakes of her past life back to the surface. Naomi Watts as Maggie is brilliant but my favourite are the grandmoms. A very liberal lesbian couple, they bring the house down with their one liners, every time they interfere in both Maggie and Ray’s life. The interesting twist of Ray’s father brings another interesting dynamic to the already frail relations between Maggie and Ray. I feel, had the purpose and the focus of the film been mor eon Ray and the transition and the actual difficulties that he faces as a transgender teen, t would have added a lot more meat to the film. (BTW: I have to mention, the house that these ladies live in, is like a dreamhouse in NYC. The ultra bohemian feel and look and decor was so spot on)

This film could have had a far wider reach and potential but sadly it fails and stays on strictly as an average fair. Its definitely not boring from any angle, but i wish it had more to it. Both soul and substance. (5.5/10)