Trans film ‘Three Generations’ criticised for casting of Elle Fanning as trans boy
As a new trailer has been released for Three Generations, the film has been criticised for the casting of Elle Fanning as a trans boy.
The film, which stars Elle Fanning, Naomi Watts and Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon, charts the journey of Fanning’s Ray as he starts the journey to physically transitioning into a boy.
Fanning’s character lives in New York City with his single mother Maggie, played by Watts, and lesbian grandmother Dolly, played by Sarandon.
But some are not happy with the casting choices in the film, questioning why a transgender actor was not cast in the role of Ray.
Many took to Twitter to question the decision, some comparing it to the choice to cast Eddie Redmayne in ‘The Danish Girl’.
One user wrote: “Boycott the elle fanning trans film… if the success of ‘the danish girl’ means they think its fine to do it again, lets prove them wrong.”
Another added: “I want to be excited about #3Generations, but are you telling me there were no pre-T trans actors who could have played Ray?”
Originally screened under the name About Ray at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2015, the film was pulled from schedules just days before its slated release date.
Director Gaby Dellal revealed a year ago on Instagram that the second version of the film had been finished.
Dellal also defended the decision to cast Fanning in the role.
She told Refinery29: “The part is a girl and she is a girl who is presenting in a very ineffectual way as a boy.
“She’s not pretending to have a deeper voice. She’s just a girl who is being herself and is chasing the opportunity to start hormone treatment. So to actually use a trans boy was not an option because this isn’t what my story is about,” she adds.
It will now be released to US audiences on May 5th, under Three Generations – the name it had before it switched to About Ray.
In an emotive trailer, Fanning’s character admits: “The hardest part of my day is knowing everyone still sees me as a girl.”
Dolly gives voice to stereotypes people typically vocalise about trans people: that there must be an alternative to transitioning, and that they’re actually confused about their sexuality.
Sarandon announced last year she had plans to make female-friendly adult films.
The actress, who plays a lesbian in this film, said her sexual orientation was “up for grabs” earlier this year, before suggesting that she never really had the chance to properly explore her sexuality.
Watch the trailer for Three Generations here:
