May December (2023) is a drama film starring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman with Portman playing an actress who wants to observe Moore’s character for an upcoming film.
May December follows Elizabeth Berry (Portman) who visits Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Moore) because she will play Gracie in an independent film.
The title refers to the term ‘may-december’ used for couples with a significant age difference similar to the gap between the two months.
Gracie was caught having an affair with her son’s friend, Joe Yoo when she was 36 and he was a 13-year-old boy. She went to prison for having sex with a minor and eventually married Joe after she got out and he was old enough.
Loosely inspired by real circumstances
The story of May December is loosely based on the life of Mary Katherine “Mary Kay” Fualaau who was arrested in 1997 for having a relationship with a 12-year-old child named Vili Fualaau.
Mary spent time in prison from 1998 to 2004. She had two children with Fualaau and the couple married in 2005 following Mary’s release from prison.
The marriage lasted for 14 years before a legal separation in 2019, and Mary passed away from colorectal cancer in 2020 at the age of 58. Her family was by her side in her final moments, and she left most of her estate to Fualaau.
Also Read: May December (2023) review: Eerie drama has a lot of nuance
