New Film “May December” Revives Controversial Mary Kay Letourneau Case
More than 26 years after the infamous case of Mary Kay Letourneau, a convicted sex offender, captivated tabloids, a new film called “May December” is generating early buzz for the upcoming award season. Netflix released the trailer for the film on Tuesday, announcing a theater release on November 17th, followed by a streaming release in December. The movie, directed by Todd Haynes, loosely revolves around the story of Elizabeth Berry, played by Natalie Portman, an actress seeking to portray Gracie Atherton-Yoo, played by Julianne Moore, in a biographical film.
Gracie Atherton-Yoo, the character based on Letourneau, was a pet shop owner who now lives a secluded life with her husband, Joe, portrayed by Charles Melton, and their children after her release from prison. Notably, Gracie and Joe first met when she was 36 years old, and he was a 13-year-old seventh-grade student.
“May December” draws inspiration from Letourneau’s case, although it alters certain details. In 1997, Letourneau pleaded guilty to second-degree rape involving Vili Fualaau, who was her sixth-grade student at the time. Letourneau and Fualaau went on to have two children together, one of whom was born while she was serving her sentence. They eventually married in 2005, a year after Letourneau’s release from jail after more than seven years of imprisonment.
The film “May December” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, receiving mostly positive reviews. Vulture called it “both humane and scathing,” while The Hollywood Reporter commended the “riveting” performances of Moore and Portman. Both actors are expected to be strong contenders during the upcoming award season.
Director Todd Haynes, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, did not mention Letourneau specifically, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 58. However, Haynes acknowledged that his film raises thought-provoking questions that society and the legal system have the right to explore.
Haynes shared, “It’s exploring the issues that women have to balance in their lives and the contradictory roles that they’re often asked to play as objects of desire, and yet, as mothers and guardians of the family and the institution of marriage, they have to navigate all of these complicated demands that come out of society. I find that to be the place where so much universal experience resides.”
As “May December” approaches its release, audiences anticipate a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities surrounding controversial cases like Letourneau’s and the societal expectations placed on women.