Film Review: May December
by Erin Huebscher

Todd Haynes, USA 2023

Set in Savannah, Georgia, the narrative centers on Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman), a well-known actress researching the life of Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore), who made headlines in the 1990s for an unconventional relationship with a much younger Joe Yoo (Charles Melton). As Elizabeth quite literally immerses herself in Gracie's story for an upcoming movie role, the film explores the entangled lives of the characters, blurring the boundaries between scandal, relationships, and consequences. Drawing parallels with the real-life controversy of Mary Kay Letourneau, MAY DECEMBER refrains from offering judgments on the characters’ actions and instead creates an intentional maze, leaving audiences caught in a whirlwind of emotions and moral ambiguities.