What you need to know:
In an interview for Blaze Trends, Todd Haynes told us about his use of mirrors and reflections in May December, his latest film starring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman.
Todd Haynes has built up quite an interesting filmographyThe entire narrative is based on the development of its characters, who often have a disturbing identity in communities that reject them. Haynes is, so to speak, too one of the first filmmakers of the New Queer Cinema.
Its importance in the industry has grown over the years He returned with until 2023 May December (Secrets of a scandal by its title in Spanish), A film whose cast included two of today’s best actresses: Julianne Moorewho has already worked with Haynes, and Natalie Portman.
May Decemberincorrectly classified as a comedy, continues a time in the life of two women who find themselves in an environment full of lies, reflections and imitations. And we just had the opportunity to talk to Todd Haynes about this film:
May December
May December took as reference the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, a teacher who married at age 34 and had four children, began a sexual and romantic relationship with Vili Fualaau, her 12-year-old student. who was in sixth grade.
Not to make a long story short, Mary Kay got caught, but by that time she was already pregnant with Vili. After she was given the opportunity to be released from prison on the condition that she not see the minor, she was caught again. And there they put her in prison for seven years… where she had her second child, Vili. After completing her prison sentence, Mary Kay and Vili married in 2005.
This story is the basis of May December where we meet Gracie, a woman who, at the age of 36, had a sexual and romantic relationship with a 13-year-old minor. At the beginning of the film, the two have a seemingly solid marriage.
But everything changes with the arrival of Elizabeth, a television actress who was hired to play Gracie in a film. Desperate to show the world that she’s a great actress, Elizabeth looks for Gracie to portray her properly and give her a voice.