May December

In 2015, actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) arrives in Savannah, Georgia, with a mission to bring authenticity to her upcoming role as Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore), a complex and enigmatic individual whose life has been forever marked by scandal. Gracie's story begins in 1992, when at the age of 36, she was caught in a compromising position with 13-year-old Joe Yoo (Charles Melton), a schoolmate of her son Georgie (Cory Michael Smith), in the very pet store where they both worked. This illicit affair resulted in Gracie giving birth to Joe's child while serving time in prison.

Twenty-three years later, Gracie and Joe are married with three children: Honor (Piper Curda), a college student, and twins Charlie (Gabriel Chung) and Mary (Elizabeth Yu), on the cusp of graduation from high school. The family's dynamics are further complicated by the fact that Honor was born behind bars. Gracie's desire to humanize her character in the film adaptation prompts her to invite Elizabeth to immerse herself in their story, eschewing the traditional Hollywood approach.

Gracie extends an invitation to a barbecue at her home, where Elizabeth engages with the couple in a candid interview. The community still harbors deep-seated reservations about Joe and Gracie's relationship, manifesting in a disturbing display of hostility that includes the deposition of unpleasant surprises on their doorstep. Rhonda (Andrea Frankle), a close friend of Gracie's, offers a glimpse into the complexities of their relationship, revealing a dynamic where Gracie treats Joe with a paternalistic air.

As Elizabeth delves deeper into Gracie's world, she discovers a life marked by frequent relocations during her childhood, thanks to her brother, a rear admiral in the Navy. This upbringing has instilled in Gracie a deep sense of closeness with her siblings. Gracie and Joe first crossed paths when he sought employment at the pet store in seventh grade, where he worked part-time after school and on weekends. Georgie, their son, is now married with children of his own, Bill and Cassidy.

Elizabeth begins to grasp the depth of Gracie's character, but what strikes her most is the utter lack of remorse or guilt that pervades Gracie's being. This realization prompts Elizabeth to revisit the pivotal moment where Gracie was caught in a compromising position with Joe, reenacting the scene alone within the store's stock room. Gracie's dedication to her work at the pet store, which began in October 1990, is exemplified by her willingness to learn and take on responsibilities, eventually becoming an integral part of the store's operations.

As Gracie (D. W. Moffett) recounts her tumultuous past to her defense lawyer, she is portrayed by those around her as a complex figure - naive and passive on one hand, yet destructively reckless on the other. Her lawyer notes that even now, at 36 years old, Gracie may not fully comprehend the gravity of her actions, believing that a simple explanation would suffice to exonerate her from any wrongdoing. Georgie, once an innocent bystander, reveals how Gracie's extramarital affair with a 7th-grade student forever scarred his childhood, leaving him isolated and misunderstood by those around him.

In contrast, Joe, the object of Gracie's affections, finds solace in private conversations with an unnamed friend who shares his passion for rearing monarch butterflies. It is here that he tentatively broaches the idea of taking a vacation together, only to be rebuffed when reminded of his marital status. Elizabeth, meanwhile, participates in a Q&A session at her twins' high school, candidly discussing the intimacy felt by actors and crew members during sex scenes. Her words are met with a mixture of fascination and discomfort from Mary.

As the narrative unfolds, Gracie takes Elizabeth under her wing, imparting her makeup techniques and sharing stories about her life. In turn, Gracie learns about Elizabeth's own experiences, including her fondness for baking her famous pineapple cake. This mutual understanding sets the stage for a poignant encounter between Elizabeth and Joe, who confides in her about his struggles as a father to Honor and his own neglected childhood.

It is during a heart-to-heart with his son Charlie that Joe reveals his long-standing desire to explore cannabis, only to experience a profound emotional release once he's under its influence. As the tears flow, Joe opens up about the heavy burden of being thrust into adulthood, forever trapped in the spotlight as Honor's father. This cathartic moment serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting impact Gracie's actions had on those around her, and the lifelong consequences that have been passed down through generations.

As the sun sets on the twins' graduation celebration, the family, with Elizabeth in tow, engages in an awkward encounter with Tom, Georgie, and Gracie's old acquaintances at a local eatery. Honor, visibly perturbed, expresses discontent towards the film being made about Gracie's life and the thoughtful gift she received - a scale - commemorating her academic achievement. Gracie shares with Elizabeth that she perceives her as naive, expecting life to unfold with perfection and her children to adore her.

Meanwhile, Georgie proposes an unconventional deal to Elizabeth: in exchange for insight into Gracie's life story, he offers to supply the film's music supervision expertise. He reveals to Elizabeth that, having read Gracie's diary, he discovered a painful truth - that her older brothers had subjected her to sexual abuse. Under duress, Georgie warns that if his demands aren't met, he'll ruin the film's reputation when it hits theaters.

As the evening unfolds, Elizabeth accepts a ride from Joe and later invites him to her abode, where he presents her with a heartfelt letter Gracie penned during their early days together. The intimate atmosphere gives way to a passionate encounter between the two, followed by Elizabeth's words of encouragement, urging Joe to seize the opportunity to start anew.

That same night, Joe confronts Gracie about the inception of their relationship, his voice laced with anguish as he wonders if he was too young to be involved. Gracie maintains that she was the one who initiated the encounter, repeatedly asking who held the reins. Following Joe's departure, Elizabeth discovers Gracie's letter and reenacts the scene as if it were a cinematic moment.

On the day of Charlie and Mary's graduation, Joe's emotions reach a boiling point as he watches his children cross the threshold to adulthood. Later, as the family gathers to mark this milestone, Elizabeth prepares to depart, only to be confronted by Gracie with devastating news: Georgie fabricated the tale of her brothers' abuse.

As filming commences for the biopic, Elizabeth works tirelessly to perfect a scene depicting Gracie's seduction of Joe at the pet store. Despite the director's satisfaction, she insists on capturing another take, convinced that the scene is becoming increasingly authentic.