Today on Girls On Film Anna Smith has a fascinating discussion about Todd Haynes’ May December with its screenwriter, Samy Burch. Samy talks to Anna about the journey she went on with this screenplay from writing it as a spec script to hopefully gain representation, to it catching the attention of one of the film’s stars Natalie Portman as a producer, and so meeting the legendary director Todd Haynes (Carol, Far from Heaven). Samy talks about the real-life story that inspired the screenplay, the layers of ‘power and manipulation’ in both Moore and Portman’s performances, and the role that gender plays in media coverage of these kinds of stories. 

May December tells the story of Gracie, played by Julianne Moore, and Joe, played by Riverdale’s Charles Melton, as they live family life in the shadow of their infamous first encounter: the couple’s 20-year relationship began when Gracie was 36 and Joe was just 13-years-old. Now, two decades later, Natalie Portman plays actress Elizabeth who travels to Georgia to study the couple for a role in an upcoming film. Gracie and Joe are forced to revisit their past from new perspectives, as they question the love story they've told themselves and the world. 

You can watch May December now in cinemas in the UK, and on Sky Cinema on the 8 December 2023.

Other films mentioned in this episode include: 
Persona, Ingmar Bergman, 1966
3 Women, Robert Altman, 1977
Coyote vs. Acme, Dave Green

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ 
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 
www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod 
www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno

Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Audio editor: Nic Wassell
Intern: Charlotte Matheson

House band: MX Tyrants

This episode is in partnership with Sky Cinema.

With thanks to AmyLouise Godby.

© HLA Agency

Ep 163: May December’s Samy Burch on screenwriting & working with Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore

Ayooo we're still on the weird sex train that Saltburn left us on last week, but instead of the wage gap we're talking the age gap with MAY DECEMBER! Netflix Book Club number 189 is a good one, join the usual suspects @dennisrooney7 and @_miketoohey as they chop up one of the most subtle of the subtles. Follow the pod on instagram to see what movies we'll be talking about soon @netflixbookclubpodcast. Next week we talk Once Upon a Time in Hollywood!

189 - May December

A holiday mix made mostly of diegetic film music and live tracks. Full tracklist here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DDsfpexSmY9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

"When you look at the hills, beyond the houses and beyond the trees, where the earth touches the sky, that’s the horizon. The closer you get to that line, the farther it moves. If you walk towards it, it moves away. It flees from you. I must also explain this to you. You see the line. You see it, but it doesn’t exist."
— Marc Dalens (François Cluzet), Chocolat (1988)

Featured films include: Cries and Whispers, Chocolat (1988), Fallen Leaves, Safe, Perfect Days, Ghost Dog, La Chimera, Frantic, Fingers, 8 Femmes, Before Sunset

Featured artists include: David Sylvian, Kali Malone, ML Buch, Nina Simone, Portishead, Ana Roxanne

Winter Solstice Mix 2024

Every week we watch a movie that's streaming on Netflix, then we talk about it.

Girls On Film is a film review podcast from a female perspective, hosted by film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith and produced by co-founder Hedda Archbold at HLA Agency

Communications Director @ Sharp Type
Music Director @ Lauren Manoogian & Joyce HK
Resident @ The Lot Radio
Curator @ Sharp FM

New tracks tagged #ToddHaynes