May December follows a young actress, Elizabeth, who decides to meet the woman she will play in a film. The film tells a story that happened twenty years ago, in which Gracie was sentenced to prison for having an affair with a thirteen-year-old boy, Joe, whom she later married and raised a family with. As Elizabeth becomes more involved in the everyday life of the marriage, the uncomfortable facts of the scandal come to light, bringing long-dormant emotions to the surface.
The film explores one of the great talents of the human species: our refusal to look at ourselves. It also invites us to look beyond the scandal that inspired this story to see the humanity behind the headlines. May December plays with that fine line between a sensational moment and the story of a family in crisis and people who have lost the capacity for self-awareness. As a viewer, you may find yourself laughing and then realize that it's no longer funny as the scene takes a drastic shift toward drama.
Director Todd Haynes knew almost instantly which two acclaimed actresses would star in his film: Julianne Moore (Still Alice; A Single Man) and Natalie Portman (Jackie). He was completely intrigued by the story and began talking to Natalie about the character of Elizabeth Berry, and about the way she relies on assumptions and projections. From that moment of conversation and debate, the role was hers. On the other hand, they talked about who might be the best choice to play Gracie Atherton-Yoo. Todd quickly considered Julianne Moore for the role. She read the script and thought it was extremely interesting, complex, and nuanced. On top of that, they had never worked together so it was a great opportunity to share a unique project.
May December is a moving and captivating story that will keep you intrigued from the very first moment. The film is now available in theatres in Latin America.
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