Is the Movie May December Inspired by Real Events?

The 2023 film May December presents a provocative narrative centered on a deeply unsettling age-gap relationship. This black comedy drama, directed by Todd Haynes and featuring Julianne Moore, challenges viewers to confront moral dilemmas. Remarkably, it manages to invoke a semblance of sympathy for the character who embodies questionable ethics. This ability to invoke nuanced perspectives has led to multiple accolades, including nominations from the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. Nevertheless, the true-life events that inspired May December tell a different and far more complex story that elicits discomfort.

Julianne Moore takes on the role of Gracie Atherton-Yoo, a woman convicted in the early 1990s of a heinous crime involving a 13-year-old boy. During her imprisonment, Gracie gave birth to the boy’s child, and years later, they formed a family together. This intricate storyline is mirrored in the film through the character Elizabeth, played by Natalie Portman, who portrays Gracie in a movie within the movie. The real-life figure behind this narrative transformation is Mary Kay Letourneau, whose story is both intriguing and unsettling, paralleling the themes explored in the film.

Who Is Mary Kay Letourneau?

The Inspiration Behind Julianne Moore’s Character in May December

Natalie Portman As Elizabeth Berry And Julianne Moore As Gracie Atherton talking in a bathroom In May December.

The narrative of May December is profoundly influenced by the tumultuous life of Mary Kay Letourneau, a Seattle teacher who captured global headlines in the late 1990s. While the film does not follow a biographical structure, it closely mirrors real events. Notably, some of the dialogue performed by Julianne Moore directly quotes Letourneau from her interviews. Similar to Gracie, Mary Kay Letourneau faced severe legal repercussions for engaging in a sexual relationship with her underage student.

In 1996, a 34-year-old Letourneau began a relationship with Vili Fulaluau, who was only 12 years old at the time. Their romance was discovered when a bystander saw them in a car. Nonetheless, this revelation did not deter their relationship from continuing.

Mary Kay Letourneau was ultimately arrested and charged with second-degree rape, to which she pleaded guilty. Her first husband, Steve Letourneau, provided evidence of the illegal relationship by discovering love letters exchanged between Mary and Vili.

Letourneau maintained that her feelings towards Fulaluau were sincere and not predatory. She expressed that she was not after younger men, claiming that her emotional connection was exclusive to Vili. Disturbingly, Letourneau asserted that it was Vili who seduced her, challenging conventional narratives about power dynamics in their relationship.

Much like Gracie in May December, Letourneau and Fulaluau continued their relationship post-incarceration, culminating in marriage and parenthood. Initially sentenced to just three months, Letourneau violated her probation, leading to a longer seven-year sentence. Upon her release in 2005, she rekindled her relationship with Fulaluau and they subsequently wed.

Why Mary Kay Letourneau’s Case Attracted So Much Attention

Media Coverage and Societal Double Standards

May December effectively captures the disturbing aspects of the media frenzy surrounding Mary Kay Letourneau’s case, shedding light on society’s reaction to older women in relationships with underage boys. The extensive coverage not only sensationalized their story but also raised critical questions regarding societal perceptions of female sexual predators.

From the onset, it was clear that society exhibits a troubling double standard in its treatment of sexual offenders. It is widely acknowledged that if the roles were reversed, with a male teacher and a female student, the reaction would have been starkly different. Furthermore, Letourneau’s case was often romanticized by media outlets at the time, framing it as a tale of forbidden love instead of acknowledging the serious nature of the crimes committed. This narrative was perpetuated even to the point of featuring Letourneau and Fulaluau’s child on the cover of a national magazine in 1998.

The portrayal of Fulaluau in the media also raises ethical concerns; instead of being depicted as a victim—a crucial facet of the story—he was frequently depicted as an adult participant. In more recent years, there has been a shift in societal attitudes with a growing recognition of the grievous nature of such relationships. Unfortunately, this awareness came too late to alter the events of the 1990s, which May December insightfully brings to the forefront.

What May December Alters in Letourneau’s Story

A Unique Interpretation of Real Events

Charles Melton as Joe looking tired and listless while lying on the couch in May December

Although May December heavily draws from Mary Kay Letourneau’s life, it does not serve as a biopic or exact retelling. The film incorporates several divergences that differentiate Gracie’s character from Letourneau’s reality.

One significant modification lies in the initial meeting between Gracie and Joe Yoo, the young boy she pursues. In May December, Gracie first encounters Joe as her son’s classmate before they later work together. This less predatory setting contrasts sharply with Letourneau’s relationship with Fulaluau, where she was in a position of authority over him as his teacher.

This shift in context allows audiences to see Gracie in a somewhat sympathetic light, a nuance not afforded to Letourneau’s case. Likewise, while both women had families, including children, at the onset of their relationships, Gracie maintained connections with her family, albeit strained. In Letourneau’s case, after her scandal was made public, her husband left her, and she was prohibited from contacting her own children.

Another notable adjustment involves the children the couples had. In the film, Gracie gives birth while incarcerated and is already pregnant when arrested; however, Letourneau had two children with Fulaluau, the first born during a previous sentence. The second was born while she was serving time after breaching probation by contacting him again.

The Fate of Mary Kay Letourneau

Letourneau Passed Away in 2020

Gracie Atherton Opening The Fridge In May December

Following years of public scrutiny, Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fulaluau married and started a family, continuing their relationship into adulthood. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 2019. Fulaluau eventually recognized the abusive nature of their relationship, mirroring the complexities depicted in May December.

Mary Kay Letourneau passed away from cancer in 2020 at the age of 58. Throughout her life, she never expressed remorse for her actions nor did she confront the reality of her abusive behavior towards Vili Fulaluau. This denial perhaps represents the film’s most poignant theme, as May December deftly illustrates the tragic elements of her narrative through its characters.

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