The Weinstein Company and the Motion Picture Association of America have agreed to give the transgender coming of age drama “3 Generations” a PG-13 rating for “mature thematic content, some sexual references and language.”
According to an individual with knowledge, slight edits were made to the language of the film and both sides compromised on the rating.
The MPAA previously slapped an R-rating onto the film starring Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon and Naomi Watts, due to language including sexual references, but the Weinstein Company challenged the rating. Directed by Gaby Dellal, “3 Generations” stars Fanning as a transgender teenage boy named Ray. Watts plays his mother, and Sarandon plays his grandmother, who is a lesbian.
TWC’s co-chairman Harvey Weinstein previously said, “Gaby, Naomi, Susan and Elle made this movie to share its message of acceptance and inclusion with all generations. The fact that an ‘R’ rating would prevent high school students from seeing this film would truly be a travesty. The MPAA and I were able to come to an agreement on ‘Bully’ and I am confident that we will be able to do so again.”
“This film is a beautiful and touching story about family and identity. It is important for teenagers to see it and the ‘R’ Rating doesn’t reflect today’s society,” executive producer Watts had said about the film. “‘3 Generations’ doesn’t have a bad bone in its body, it’s an expression of love, acceptance, strength, and honesty, values that could not be more necessary right now.”
The Weinstein Company enlisted Hollywood lawyer David Boies to challenge the rating. Boies has consulted on numerous human rights issues for TWC including the censorship of Oscar-nominated film “Carol,” as well as the previous protest of the MPAA’s rating of the documentary “Bully.” “Bully” initially received an R-rating from the MPAA for similar reasons but eventually brought its rating down to PG-13.
In response, Chris Ortman, MPAA spokesperson, had told TheWrap, “Under the Classifications and Ratings Administration (CARA) rules, the ratings board and appeals board maintain confidentiality and do not comment publicly about the process for movies under review.”
He added, “Any filmmaker who objects to the given rating can choose to go to the appeals board.”
Recently, GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis urged MPAA to reverse its decision to give “3 Generations” an R-rating. The rating, said Ellis, “sends a dangerous message to this already marginalized community.”