Directed by Todd Haynes, May December is a gripping drama based on a story by Alex Mechanik and Burch. The movie stars Charles Melton, Julian Moore, and Natalie Portman and explores the complex situations between an underage boy and an adult woman.
The movie is evocative of a genuine case of a woman named Mary Kay Letourneau. The movie is set up in the charming vibe of Savannah, and it prompts the audience to think about societal theories and moral obligations and talk about the complexities of a relationship.
The story revolves around Elizabeth Berry, played by Natalie Portman, giving herself in Gracie Atherton Yoo’s life, played by Julian Moore, to play the character in the movie.
Synopsis of May December
The movie shows an actress, Elizabeth Berry, played by Natalie Portman, who is going to Savannah, Georgia, to research for her role. She will research Gracie Atherton Yoo, portrayed by Julianne More, and make a dive into her controversial life.
The woman got infamy for her 23-year-long relationship with her husband, Charles Melton. Their relationship began when he was just 14 years old.
The movie explores Gracie’s discreditable past, the imprisonment, and present-day problems in her and Joe’s marriage, who also have three kids.
Elizabeth’s involvement slowly becomes very personal. It feels like the lines between acting and reality are almost blurred. Tensions rise to family drama, leading to love and societal enigma and pressure.
Where was the movie filmed?
The filming of the movie happens in minutes in 2022 near the beautiful Savannah and its picturesque locations. It was originally set in Maine and Camden, but the producers opted for Tybee and Savannah for the ambiance that these two places offer.
The movie depicts the local atmosphere with authenticity by adding true homes and buildings.
This combination added to the whole persona of Gracie’s not-so-straight life. The selection of landscapes in Georgia increases the storytelling and also gives a visually pleasing background for the drama to move forward.
Estill Manor, Savannah
Elizabeth’s characters stay in an inn which is known as Estill Manor, which is a living museum.
Hutchinson Island
The outdoor scenes when Gracie was hunting or when Joe was with the dogs were filmed at Hutchinson Islands.
Gallery Espresso, Savannah
At this spot, Gracie’s ex-husband and Elizabeth met in the movie. These scenes were recorded in a beautiful local coffee shop in Chippewa Square.
Tybee Island, Georgia
The city of Tybee Island is located in Chatham County, Georgia, East of Savannah. The massive and luxurious property is located privately and serves as the top place for the characters to reside, away from all the noise of the city.
Who stars in the movie?
The movie’s cast looks promising and brings life to all these characters with details and true self. Natalie Portman plays Elizabeth Berry, an actress researching the controversial character of Gracie Atherton Yoo.
Julianne Moore gives a memorable portrayal of Gracie, who is exploring the challenges in this socially unfriendly relationship.
Charoes Melton plays Joe Yoo, who is the central guy in Gracie’s life. In the movie, you will also see Cory Michael Smith who plays the character of George, D.W. Moffett plays Tom Atherton, Lawrence Aranico as Morris Sperber, Piper Curada as Honor Atherton Yoo, Gabriel Chung as Charlie Atherton Yoo and Elizabeth Yu as Mary Atherton Yoo.
Where can you stream the movie?
The movie debuted at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May 2023 and gained critical applause. Then, in November 2023, it was released in theaters.
For North American distribution, Netflix has the rights. In December 2023, the movie was available to stream on Netflix.
May December has gained vast recognition, getting a remarkable 92% approval from 220 critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was directed by Todd Haynes, who has directed movies such as Dark Waters, The Velvet Underground, Carol, and Far From Heaven.
