May December
WARNING : SPOILERS onwards for May December .
Summary
Todd Haynes ' latest filmMay Decemberis full of motive and ocular symbolism that largely point toward the film’scentral subject of deceit , imitation , and duality of character . May December , which debuted on Netflix on December 1 , 2023 , is sire a lot of buzz for the upcoming award time of year where it is poised to be considered for a number of Academy Awards , particularly in the field of acting . Natalie Portman stars as method actress Elizabeth Berry who visits the controversial yoke of Grace ( Julianne More ) and Joe ( Charles Melton)for get to know Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen advantageously on several levels for an upcoming role portraying her in a Hollywood moving picture .
The reflective symbolization seen throughoutMay December , through physical mirror onscreen as well as ego - evaluations by key characters , is significant in many way , peculiarly in Charles Melton ’s Joe Yoo . Joe represents the existent - life Vili Fualaau , who was the victim of 2nd - point nipper rapine by his former instructor and eventual wife Mary Kay Letourneau . Julianne Moore portrays Gracie ( Mary Kay ) who is live in a bantam world of ego - proclaimed naïveté and protection from the public eye and outside tabloids that became fascinated by her disturb story . Haynes apply a handful of thematic constituent to delicately reinvent this tabu story inMay December .
The multifaceted ending of Todd Haynes ' May December happen Portman ’s Elizabeth contemplating the truth of Moore ’s controversial Gracie character .
May December’s Monarch Butterflies Represent Joe’s Metamorphosis & Longing For Freedom
Joe was robbed of a typical adolescent experience through his relationship with Gracie
Joe ’s favorite hobby inMay Decemberis raising sovereign butterflies and releasing them to the natural world due to a population crisis . By the ending of the film , Joe realise that he has discovered a newfound sacking as two of his tiddler , Charles and Mary , postgraduate high school day , leaving him and Gracie as empty - nesters as they go off to college . Joe , who had been a young teenager when he took the responsibility of his kids as a parent while Gracie served a maximal prison sentence , was soak of much of his adolescence . Still relatively young at 36,Joe has much of his life ahead of himand releases the butterfly in the scene above with a intimation of possibility for his own future .
Joe ’s fascination with milkweed butterfly butterflies also seems like a rather boylike hobby , another indication of how he was overcharge of a normal childhood and may not have fully germinate emotionally and mentally as an adult . This is demonstrated when he and Gracie reason toward the end of the film , as Joe sobs and cowers boylike like a Kyd who got caught stealing from the cookie jolt . The metamorphosis of the butterfly stroke represent Joe ’s transition from immaturity to maturity and a hazard to begin againas both Elizabeth and his pop have propose .
Todd Haynes ' approaching Netflix drama May December is based on the chilling veridical - life love and offense story of Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau .
The Mirrors & Reflections Act As Symbols Of Duality, Imitation, Image & Deceit
Elizabeth is “mirroring” Gracie but also searches for truth beneath her outward image
Several shots inMay December , specially the long take one where Gracie ’s girl judge on a graduation dress seen above , experiment with reflections in mirror to imply a duality of character in both Gracie and Elizabeth . Both characters represent outwardly much otherwise than they feel inwardly , an indication of how performative both of them are even before Elizabeth pop out to " become " Allen . This dichotomy and imitation also suggest at concealed dissimulation within them both , asElizabeth “ mirrors ” Gracie to accurately play her part but not to “ truly ” understand herand Gracie sculpts her figure of speech into how she would like to be perceive in Elizabeth ’s pic .
Both Gracie and Elizabeth also have sex what it ’s like to be under the pervasive public eyeand are very cognisant of how they come out before a tv camera . The camera is very intentionally placed inMay December , often capture the various angles of their profile much like a paparazzo or cinematic camera would . There is also a scene in which the camera itself acts as a mirror as Gracie shows Elizabeth how to put on her make-up . From this position , we see both Gracie and Elizabeth mask their rightful self " in the mirror " but more so for the audience , as their image is designed equally as much for themselves as it is for the spectators .
The age gap between Gracie and Joe in May December is fairly precise to the real - lifetime age col between lead player Julianne Moore and Charles Melton .
Elizabeth’s Method Acting Techniques Masquerade Heartlessness As Professionalism
Elizabeth’s demeanor as a famous method actor is just as performative as her imitations of Gracie
ThroughoutMay December , Elizabeth indulges in the freedom of come after wherever her method “ operation ” takes her . This results in her doing some very strange and despicable thing such as convincing Joe to cheat on Gracie . Elizabeth ’s " method acting " techniques seem like an alibi for her dark intentions and snakelike manoeuvre as she inserts herself into a life that is n’t hers . Gracie begins to see Elizabeth as someone who is also protected from look the reality of herselfthrough her ego - proclaimed naïveté . May Decemberis for the most part about the principal role ' inability to reckon at the truth of themselves out of a fear that it would shock , disgust , or destruct them , something that Elizabeth , Gracie , and Joe are all evenly shamefaced of .
