One of the most moving and original aspects of Jill Soloway’s groundbreaking Amazon series Transparent is seeing a trans character’s life story play out in the context of her (troubled but functional, accepting but not-fully-understanding) family. That’s because we’re so rarely privy to nuanced parent-children narratives with trans characters on screen.
Hopefully Three Generations will prove a worthy follow-up. Written by Nikole Beckwith and to be directed by Gaby Dellal, the multi-generational feature will focus on NYC teen Ray’s (Fanning) decision to undergo gender transition. His mother (Naomi Watts) will have to adapt to treating her only daughter as a son, and his lesbian grandmother (Susan Sarandon), will have to come to terms as well with her grandchild’s gender-identity issues.
Transparent received some drubbing from trans activists who were angry that its lead role was played by Jeffrey Tambor, a cis actor. Going forward, trans projects will likely encounter similar criticisms, though Three Generations has a mitigating factor in that Ray is at the beginning of his physical transition into a man. Still, it’s hard not to be excited for a multigenerational project focused on sexually diverse women and transgender people with female writers and filmmakers in key roles behind the scenes.
Filming will begin in NY in November.
[via THR]
