New Movies: Three Birthdays (2023) by Jane Weinstock

"Three Birthdays (2023)": A Family Navigates the Sexual Revolution in 1970

Description: Directed by Jane Weinstock, "Three Birthdays (2023)" is a period drama set in 1970, at the tumultuous height of the sexual revolution and the Vietnam War era. The film intimately portrays an idealistic academic couple and their 17-year-old daughter as they grapple with evolving revolutionary ideas around sex, race, and class, only to find their progressive beliefs challenged by personal betrayals and harsh realities.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13350138/

Link Review: https://spinningplatters.com/film-review-three-birthdays/

About movie: https://www.threebirthdays.com/

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/three-birthdays (US), https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/three-birthdays (UK)

Detailed Summary: The film unfolds in 1970, focusing on the lives of Rob and Kate, an academic couple deeply entrenched in left-leaning, progressive ideals, and their 17-year-old daughter, Bobbie. They strive to embody the revolutionary ideas of the era, advocating for sexual freedom, racial equality, and class consciousness within their home and academic circles. Kate has published books on feminism, while Rob is finalizing a book about J. Edgar Hoover.

The narrative spans three birthdays, each revealing secrets and dashing hopes. The film opens on Bobbie's 17th birthday, as she is determined to lose her virginity, setting off a chain of events. When Bobbie discovers her mother's infidelity, her furious reaction triggers confrontations that force Rob and Kate to confront their own insecurities and the contradictions of their progressive stances. Their cherished beliefs are tested as Rob faces tenure insecurity, and Kate grapples with the consequences of the "marital liberties" she's embraced. The film explores the uncomfortable collision of the personal and the political, culminating on a day of national reckoning (likely referencing events like the Kent State shootings), highlighting how their seemingly enlightened views are challenged by lived experiences and the harsh realities of the outside world.

Plot Summary:

• Set in 1970, the film follows an academic couple, Rob and Kate, and their 17-year-old daughter, Bobbie.

• They embody progressive ideals of the sexual revolution, race, and class.

• On Bobbie's 17th birthday, her determination to lose her virginity sets events in motion.

• Bobbie discovers her mother's infidelity, leading to family confrontations.

• The film explores the contradictions of their beliefs and the impact of the era on their personal lives.

• Secrets are revealed and hopes are dashed across three pivotal birthdays, culminating in a day of national significance.

The plot is a period drama exploring family dynamics amidst societal upheaval.

Director's Vision: Jane Weinstock directed and wrote "Three Birthdays" (with a story credit also to Nevin Schreiner). Her vision was to create a "serious, humorous, and intimate" portrayal of a family wrestling with the contradictions of the sexual revolution and the Vietnam War era. Having lived through the period, Weinstock aims to explore the tension between the personal and the political, showing how revolutionary ideas can clash with human insecurities and relational complexities. The film is designed as a character study, dissecting the "destructive honesty" that can emerge when idealized beliefs are confronted with real-life messy situations. She sought to avoid simply romanticizing the 1970s, instead offering a nuanced look at the challenges of living out radical ideals.

Themes:

• The Sexual Revolution: Its impact on individual choices, marital dynamics, and generational differences.

• Middle-Class Hypocrisy: The gap between espoused progressive ideals and actual behavior.

• Family Secrets and Betrayals: The unraveling of hidden truths within a seemingly open and intellectual family.

• The Personal and the Political: How broad societal changes infiltrate and challenge intimate relationships.

• Coming-of-Age: Bobbie's journey as she navigates her sexuality and disillusionment with her parents.

• Disillusionment: The characters' struggles to reconcile their ideals with the harsh realities of their lives and the era.

• Generational Divide: The differing experiences and perspectives of parents and their teenage daughter during a time of rapid change.

Key Success Factors:

• Period Setting: The 1970s backdrop, rich with cultural and political significance, provides a compelling setting.

• Strong Ensemble Cast: Features well-known actors like Josh Radnor, Annie Parisse, and Dolly Wells, capable of nuanced dramatic performances.

• Timely Themes: Despite being a period piece, the film's exploration of hypocrisy, idealism, and personal vs. political resonate with contemporary audiences.

• Intimate Character Study: Focuses on the internal struggles and relationships within a single family.

• Experienced Director: Jane Weinstock's background in psychological dramas informs the film's depth.

Summary Short: Jane Weinstock's "Three Birthdays (2023)" is a drama set in 1970, chronicling an academic couple and their 17-year-old daughter as they grapple with the complexities of the sexual revolution amidst personal secrets and betrayals. Starring Josh Radnor, Annie Parisse, and Nuala Cleary, it premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2023 and had a limited theatrical and VOD release in early 2025. Critical reception was mixed, with some praising its intentions but finding the execution uneven.

Awards and Nominations: As of May 20, 2025, "Three Birthdays (2023)" has not received major industry awards or nominations. It premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2023.

Critics Reception: Critical reception for "Three Birthdays" has been mixed. While some acknowledge its thoughtful intentions and the relevance of its themes, others found the execution somewhat "tepid" or "watered-down."

• Movie Nation: Describes it as a "downbeat family melodrama" that feels "watered-down, tepid and weary almost from the start." While acknowledging director Jane Weinstock's personal connection to the era, the review criticizes the film for feeling "shallow, lightweight and less serious than it should," and that the cast is "acting as" rather than "inhabiting characters." It also mentions that the revolutionary issues sometimes play as "unintentionally quaint."

• Film Fatales (Parity Pipeline Project): Highlights the film as "serious, humorous, and intimate," praising its exploration of how the personal and political collide.

• Collider: In its trailer exclusive, expressed excitement for the film to "explore complex family dynamics and the idea of revolution both at home and within the self."

Overall Critics Reception: The film appears to be seen as a well-intentioned period drama that struggles with consistent execution. While the performances are generally considered solid, some critics felt the film didn't fully capture the radical energy of the 1970s or delve deep enough into the consequences of its characters' choices.

Reviews: Reviews tend to focus on the film's attempt to portray the complexities of the 1970s counterculture through a family lens.

• Strengths: Many critics appreciate the film's ambition to explore weighty themes like sexual freedom, racial politics, and generational conflict. The performances, particularly from Annie Parisse and Josh Radnor as the academic parents, are often highlighted as a anchor for the drama. The intimate focus on family dynamics over grand historical events is also noted.

• Weaknesses: Some reviews point to a lack of genuine grit or emotional impact, suggesting that the film sometimes tells more than it shows the revolutionary spirit. The dialogue can feel a bit didactic at times, and the characters' actions, while meant to be revealing, don't always resonate with the intended weight. The period detail is present but some feel it doesn't fully immerse the viewer in the era's energy.

Production: "Three Birthdays (2023)" is a U.S. production. It was directed by Jane Weinstock, who also wrote the screenplay (with a story credit to Nevin Schreiner). Producers include James Welling, Andrea Miller, and Chris Collins, with Allan Jones as an executive producer. The ensemble cast features Josh Radnor (Rob), Annie Parisse (Kate), Nuala Cleary (Bobbie), Dolly Wells (Marian), Gus Birney (Joyce), and Guy Burnet (Christopher). Wolfgang Held was the cinematographer, Keith Reamer edited the film, and David Lang composed the music. The film has a runtime of 90 or 91 minutes. Principal photography wrapped by July 2022.

Distribution Companies:

• United States: Good Deed Entertainment (Theatrical and Digital/VOD)

Release Date on Streaming: "Three Birthdays (2023)" became available on digital platforms (VOD) on February 18, 2025. It is available on platforms like Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.

Theatrical Release: "Three Birthdays (2023)" had its World Premiere at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2023. It opened in select U.S. theaters on January 24, 2025.

Why to Recommend This Movie:

• Period Drama Enthusiasts: If you enjoy films set in significant historical eras, particularly the 1970s.

• Fans of Character-Driven Stories: The film delves into the internal lives and relationships of its central family.

• Exploration of Social Issues: It tackles themes of the sexual revolution, race, and class in a personal context.

• Strong Ensemble Cast: Features talented actors delivering nuanced performances.

• Intimate Look at Ideals vs. Reality: It offers a critical perspective on the challenges of living up to one's progressive beliefs.

Why to Watch Movie:

• If You're Interested in the 1970s Counterculture: Get a glimpse into the domestic impact of revolutionary ideas.

• For Fans of Josh Radnor or Annie Parisse: See their performances as a liberal academic couple.

• To See a Female Director's Work: Support Jane Weinstock's latest feature film.

• If You Enjoy Films About Family Secrets: The narrative is built around revelations and confrontations within the family.

• To Witness the Collision of Personal and Political: The film explores how societal shifts directly affect individual lives and relationships.

What Movie Trend film is Following: Period Dramas / Family Dramas / Socially Conscious Cinema / Independent Character Studies: The film fits into the trend of period dramas that use a specific historical backdrop to explore universal themes of family, love, and societal change. It's also a character-driven independent film that uses its narrative to comment on social and political movements.

What Big Social Trend is Following: Re-evaluating Past Social Movements / The Complexity of Progress / Intergenerational Dialogue: The film taps into a contemporary interest in re-examining historical social movements (like the sexual revolution) and understanding their long-term impacts and inherent contradictions. It also subtly explores the challenges of intergenerational communication and the gap between idealistic theories and lived realities.

Final Verdict: "Three Birthdays (2023)," directed by Jane Weinstock, is a thoughtful, albeit somewhat subdued, period drama that immerses viewers in the intellectual and personal turmoil of a progressive academic family in 1970. Led by strong performances from Josh Radnor and Annie Parisse, the film ambitiously tackles the complex interplay between the sexual revolution, racial politics, and personal betrayals. While critics have noted its occasional struggles with pacing and the full realization of its satirical bite, "Three Birthdays" offers an intimate and often poignant examination of the compromises inherent in trying to live by one's ideals during a transformative era. For audiences seeking a character-driven story that blends historical context with universal themes of family, honesty, and disillusionment, it provides a compelling, if not consistently electrifying, viewing experience.

Recommendations for Film Makers (Learning from this film's reception):

• Deepen the Period Immersion: While the details are present, ensuring the emotional and thematic energy of the era consistently permeates the film can elevate a period piece.

• Sharpen the Satirical Edge: If satire is intended, make sure its targets and humor are consistently biting and impactful, rather than feeling "quaint."

• Trust the Audience with Nuance: Sometimes, a film can convey complex ideas through action and subtext more effectively than explicit dialogue.

• Focus on Visceral Impact: Even in a character study, finding ways to make the emotional stakes feel consistently high can prevent a film from feeling "tepid."

Recommendations for Movie Industry:

• Support Thought-Provoking Period Dramas: Films that use history to reflect on contemporary issues are valuable.

• Champion Female Directors: Continue to provide platforms for experienced female filmmakers like Jane Weinstock to tell their stories.

• Invest in Strong Ensemble Casts: The film's cast is a key asset and demonstrates the power of talent in elevating a narrative.

• Recognize the Value of Niche Releases: Not every film is a blockbuster, and there's a significant audience for intelligent, character-driven independent cinema.