While the review that is on the IMDb movie page about this movie is rather a persons feeing about the ending of a generation, of this family, that this movie should have explained that, I don't agree. This movie is about change, but also about love....the love you feel for your child, worry about their future, and how your (transgender) child will be accepted and able to cope in a world that is identity centric, and often negative toward LGBTQ? persons. The actors treated this difficult, controversial subject with love toward their now grandson-realistic feelings of confusion, worry, about their own acceptance of Ray, everyone's thoughts about Ray's identity crisis, his worry about acceptance, being able to start his life in a new situation as himself, rather than being known formerly as Ramona, then his change made his life difficult with the others at school, in his neighborhood. This subject was dealt with in a very realistic and loving way.

I watched this at home as a Netflix streaming movie. The story here involves a heated topic in many circles, the idea that a person may be born into a gender that is not appropriate for who they really are. Many on the "conservative" side, especially of they are also fundamental religious, firmly believe that if you are born a girl that is what you are supposed to be, learn to live with it, wanting to transition to a boy should never be an option. Many on the "liberal" side firmly believe that a person needs to be true to themselves and if that means switching genders then they are supportive. In addition there are whole bunches of people who don't care either way.This movie was written and directed by women, one of them is a formerly married mother of three. The core story involves a 16-yr-old girl who has felt for most of her life that she was really a boy born with female parts. She pilots her skateboard, she dresses like a boy, she cuts her hair short. And now as the story confronts us she is requesting her mom's permission to enter a program to "transition" to a boy. She wants to get a fresh start at a new school and as a boy. A wrinkle is that her dad, whom she has no contact for the last 10 years or so, has to sign the form also.Elle Fanning who otherwise is good at glamour type female roles is really good here as Ray, I found myself really believing this girl could want to be a boy. Her grandmom is played well by Susan Sarandon as Dolly, who supports her daughter, loves her and wants her to be happy, but just doesn't know how to react to her daughter's request. And there is Naomi Watts, good as the mom, Maggie, also mostly puzzled about how to react. In an interesting additional role Linda Emond is Frances, the lesbian partner of Dolly.I think there is no doubt about the leanings of those who made this movie, but regardless of a particular viewer's own leanings the movie can be appreciated for the story it tells, there is no running away and sticking heads in the sand, the transgender issue is here and it will stay and this movie gives an excellent view of the landscape.I enjoyed watching it, good movie.

Gaby Dallal directs her own screenplay (co-written with Nikole Beckwith) in what is one of the most significant films abut the gender perception changing world in which we live. It is a very intelligent, humorous, sensitive and wholly entertaining film that has the courage to open the conflicts that face transgender people and their families. Family living under one roof in New York must deal with a life-changing transformation by one that ultimately affects them all. Ray (Elle Fanning) is a teenager who has come to the realization that he isn't meant to be a girl and has decided to transition from female to male. His single mother, Maggie (Naomi Watts), must track down Ray's biological father (Tate Donovan – or his brother Sam Trammell) to get his legal consent to allow Ray's transition. Dolly (Susan Sarandon), Ray's lesbian grandmother, living with her life partner Frances (Linda Emond) is having a hard time accepting that she now has a grandson. They must each confront their own identities and learn to embrace change and their strength as a family in order to ultimately find acceptance and understanding.The entire cast is exceptional and as always Naomi Watts, Susan Sarandon, and Elle Fanning are superb – wholly credible in their challenging roles. But there are also some fine small parts, such as the therapist Dr. Brillstein (Andrew Polk) and Frances (Linda Emond) who stand out as bight lights that enhance the story.All in all an excellent film on every level and one that deserves a very large audience. Highly Recommended.

The story is complex: Ray is a boy who was born into a girl's body. Craig and Matthew are his biological and emotional fathers, Frances and Dolly are his grandmother and lesbian lover, and Maggie, his long suffering Mum who tries to manage the whole family. Ray is going through the process of becoming a boy and the film follows him through part of the journey with all the pitfalls and emotions there is. The dialogue is genuine, the direction is superb, the acting is first class, even from Naomi Watts who plays Maggie, an actor I don't really like but she takes on this role competently. Elle Fanning shines out like an acting sun, eclipsing everyone around her and becoming the hinge pin that the entire story revolves around. She displays almost every single emotion a human is capable of and acts far, far beyond her 17 years. She earned £65,000 from this movie, that's a pittance for her performance, it's probably one of the 10 best I've ever seen. Don't miss this, it will stay in your memory for a long time.