LOS ANGELES _ The Weinstein Co.'s movie "3 Generations" has been reclassified with a PG-13 rating, instead of the original R assigned by the Motion Picture Association of America, after the distributor made some changes to its transgender-teen drama.
The film stars Naomi Watts, Elle Fanning and Susan Sarandon. Fanning plays a New York teenager seeking to transition from female to male. Watts portrays her mother, and Sarandon is her lesbian grandmother.
Cuts were made to the film as a compromise to ensure the PG-13 rating, the studio said in a statement Thursday. The movie went through regular review procedures, MPAA spokesperson Chris Ortman said Friday.
"While we regularly meet with a wide range of organizations to discuss the rating system, no outside groups have any influence on the rating process," Ortman said.
The historically conservative Parents Television Council supported the R rating and was unhappy with the decision, accusing the MPAA of being influenced by Harvey Weinstein, who challenged the initial R rating on his company's upcoming release. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which supported the filmmakers and the movie and also pushed for a PG-13 rating, was pleased.
GLAAD President and Chief Executive Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement that "3 Generations" was "a film that all families should be able to see."
"Once again," she said, "The Weinstein Company dared to tell culture-changing LGBTQ stories that Hollywood too often shies away from."
Parents Television President Tim Winter, speaking in a statement released Thursday, accused the ratings board of protecting the interests of Hollywood before those of parents. The MPAA's Ortman challenged that presumption.
"Each film is rated by a team of raters, who are themselves parents, in order to serve (the Classification and Rating Association's) purpose of providing information to parents about viewing choices for their children," he said.
The movie opens May 5 in New York and Los Angeles and expands its release May 12.
