3 Backyards

{{Infobox film

| name = 3 Backyards

| image = 3 Backyards.jpg

| caption =

| director = Eric Mendelsohn

| producer = Rocco Caruso, Amy Durning, Eric Mendelsohn

| writer = Eric Mendelsohn

| screenplay =

| story =

| based_on =

| starring = Embeth Davidtz
Edie Falco
Elias Koteas

| narrator =

| music =

| cinematography = Kasper Tuxen

| editing = Morgan Faust
Jeffrey K. Miller

| studio =

| distributor =

| released = {{Film date|2010|1|24|Sundance|2011|3|11|United States}}

| runtime = 88 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

3 Backyards is an independent drama film written and directed by Eric Mendelsohn and starring Embeth Davidtz, Edie Falco, and Elias Koteas. It premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Directing Prize,{{cite web|url=http://history.sundance.org/films/6515|title=3 Backyards|work=sundance.org}} as did Mendelsohn's first feature, Judy Berlin; Mendelsohn is the only director to have won the prize twice.{{cite web|url=http://arts.columbia.edu/film/eric-mendelsohn |title=Eric Mendelsohn |website=Columbia University School of the Arts |access-date=December 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223145847/http://arts.columbia.edu/film/eric-mendelsohn |archive-date=December 23, 2010 }}

The film was released theatrically by Screen Media Films on March 11, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/screen_media_takes_backyards_ahead_of_hamptons_fest/|title=Screen Media Takes "Backyards" Ahead of Hamptons Fest|first=Peter |last=Knegt|date=October 7, 2010|work=IndieWire}}

Plot

In a suburban Long Island neighborhood during one autumn day, the lives of three different people intersect. John, an emotionally troubled businessman in an unhappy marriage, decides not to go home when his flight is canceled at the last minute. He instead wanders around town and checks into a motel.

Peggy, a middle-aged housewife, is starstruck when she discovers that a famous actress has moved in next door. When the actress asks Peggy for a ride to the local ferry, a peculiar trip results in a confrontation.

Eight-year-old Christina steals some jewelry from her mother's bedroom and misses her school bus. She decides to walk to school and takes a shortcut through the woods, but ends up in an unfamiliar neighborhood where she is exposed to the dangers of the adult world.{{Cite AV media |title=3 Backyards |date=January 24, 2010 |type=Drama |publisher=Caruso / Mendelsohn Productions |people=Mendelsohn, Eric (director)}}

Cast

Embeth Davidtz as The Actress
Edie Falco as Peggy
Elias Koteas as John
Rachel Resheff as Christina
Kathryn Erbe as John's Wife
Peyton List as Emily

Reception

On review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, 3 Backyards has an approval rating of 76% based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10.{{cite web |title=3 Backyards |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/3-backyards |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=5 September 2023}}