May December, the latest collaboration between director Todd Haynes and actress Julianne Moore, is a sensuous and unsettling film that explores the themes of truth and identity. Set in Savannah, Georgia, the story revolves around a controversial tabloid figure named Gracie Atherton-Yoo (played by Moore) and the TV star (Natalie Portman) who shadows her for an upcoming biopic.

Co-written by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik, May December features captivating performances and delves into the idea of finding truth in unconventional circumstances. The film begins with an awkward encounter between Gracie and Elizabeth Berry (Portman), who is set to portray her in the movie. As the story unfolds, the audience is taken on a journey to uncover the full picture and the real story behind Gracie’s controversial past.

Gracie and her husband Joe (played by Charles Melton) have a complicated history, as they met when she was in her 30s and he was only 13. The film explores the repercussions of their age-gap romance and the stain it has left on their lives. Elizabeth’s fact-finding mission leads to the unraveling of events, but the truth remains enigmatic due to Gracie’s guarded nature.

Rather than relying on flashbacks, Haynes weaves the past into the narrative through conversations and visual cues. The idea of “truth” becomes fluid and emotionally charged, emphasizing the power of performance and cinema in shaping personal narratives.

The film’s aesthetics are enhanced by Marcelo Zarvos’ soap opera-inspired score and Christopher Blauvelt’s cinematography, which captures the golden-hour ambiance of Savannah. Portman and Moore deliver mesmerizing performances, with their characters visually twinning through mirrored scenes and imitations. However, the deeper truths hidden behind closed doors add a layer of complexity and emotional mystery.

One standout performance comes from Charles Melton, who portrays Joe, a man caught between youth and middle age. Haynes explores the characters’ self-perceptions versus how they want to be seen, resulting in a tension that oscillates between hilarity and vulnerability.

May December is an uncomfortably entertaining film that skillfully balances dark humor with the exploration of buried pasts. The collaboration between Haynes and Moore once again proves to be a winning combination, leaving audiences captivated and unsettled by the story’s intricate web of truth and performance.