Todd Haynes' 'May December' Explores Scandalous True Story with Portman and Moore
Todd Haynes' film 'May December,' distributed in Italy by Lucky Red, dramatizes a real-life scandal from approximately 20 years ago involving a female teacher who went to prison for a relationship with her 12-year-old student. The film stars Julianne Moore as the teacher and Natalie Portman as an actress who immerses herself in the couple's life to prepare for a role, causing disruption. Haynes described the film as a provocation, testing audience reactions in an era shaped by MeToo and cancel culture, and noted that viewers were stimulated by its nuances. The title refers to an American idiom for age-gap relationships.
Key facts
- Film 'May December' directed by Todd Haynes
- Distributed in Italy by Lucky Red
- Inspired by a true story of a teacher imprisoned for a relationship with a 12-year-old student
- Stars Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman
- Portman plays an actress researching the real-life couple
- Haynes previously directed 'Far from Heaven,' 'Carol,' and 'Dark Waters'
- Film explores themes of prejudice, convention, and the psyche
- Haynes noted the film's reception was shaped by MeToo and cancel culture
Entities
Artists
- Todd Haynes
- Julianne Moore
- Natalie Portman
- Margherita Bordino
Institutions
- Lucky Red
- Artribune
Locations
- Italy