Warning: This article contains spoilers about the Netflix film May December.
May December is a unique film because it holds up a mirror to a less talked about age-gap relationship- between a teenage boy and a woman who is about his mother’s age.
When the boy grows up, he realizes he is still a child trapped in a man’s body who has never experienced a semblance of a romantic relationship with a woman his age.
His texting the other woman is the start of that boy-turned-man finding an expression. But who is she?
In Netflix’s May December film by Todd Haynes, Joe (Charles Melton) is texting Michela, a member of a Facebook group dedicated to Monarch butterflies. Their connection resembles a budding romantic relationship. But it doesn’t become an affair. However, it gives Joe a glimpse of what romance would be like with an age-appropriate woman.
What Is May December About?
In Netflix’s May December, a film directed by Todd Haynes, the intricacies of love and relationships are explored through Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton).
Their enduring 24-year relationship carries a weighty secret: it began when Joe was just a teenager, sparking a nationwide media scandal and subjecting them to persistent hateful comments and actions from critics.
As the film unfolds, the couple’s bond shows signs of strain, notably through Joe’s secretive text messages to an undisclosed recipient.
The mysterious correspondence raises questions about the person’s identity on the other end and its implications for Joe and Gracie’s marriage.
So, who is Joe texting?
Who Does Joe Keep Repeatedly Texting in May December?
In the film May December, a compelling exploration of love and relationships takes center stage as we follow the journey of Joe (Charles Melton) and his evolving connection with a mysterious woman named Michela.
Joe’s clandestine text exchanges with Michela, a member of a Facebook group dedicated to Monarch butterflies, form a pivotal subplot that challenges his perceptions of love and devotion.
Early in the film, Joe confides in Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) about his newfound passion for rearing Monarch butterflies, driven by his desire to help preserve a species on the brink of extinction.
He joins forces with fellow enthusiasts from the Facebook group; all united in their shared commitment to safeguarding these fragile creatures. Little does Joe know that his involvement in this cause will ultimately lead to profound changes in his own life.
Throughout the film, we observe Joe engrossed in conversations on his phone, sharing the minutiae of his day and engaging in heartfelt exchanges with Michela.
Their connection mirrors the intensity of a budding relationship, characterized by the excitement of getting to know one another. However, for Joe, this experience is anything but ordinary.
Joe’s emotional entanglement with Michela is particularly bewildering because he has been entwined with Gracie for most of his life, beginning when he was a teenager.
Joe became a father before he reached adulthood, and when he finally did, Gracie returned from prison, leading to their marriage.
His existence has been inextricably linked to Gracie and the lingering shadows of their scandalous affair. Joe has never known the comfort of a conventional, age-appropriate relationship.
The stirrings of feelings for someone else are deeply disconcerting for him as they challenge his love and loyalty to Gracie and raise existential questions about his identity.
Joe finds himself at a similar age to when their affair began, and he starts to view their history through a different lens.
Engaging in conversations with an outsider who hasn’t witnessed Joe’s life as a young boy ensnared by a woman much older gives him a taste of what a relationship with someone his age could be like.
It is essential to clarify that Joe’s interactions with Michela, while emotionally charged, do not culminate in an affair. Before it reaches that point, Joe makes the difficult decision to end his marriage with Gracie.
His emotional turmoil is palpable, as evidenced by his tearful moment outside his children’s graduation ceremony, signaling the end of an era in his life.
His text exchanges with Michela become the first step toward dismantling the foundation of his marriage.
Overall, May December masterfully navigates the complexities of love, loyalty, and self-discovery as we accompany Joe on his transformative journey.
May December is streaming on Netflix now.
What are your thoughts on this complex film? Did Joe cheat on Gracie with Michaela? Or was their relationship valid? Can it become something more in the future?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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