Cory Michael Smith and Piper Curda, who portray two of Gracie's children with different dads,
are also included in the cast of May December.
Smith's Georgie and Piper's Honour both provide insightful looks into the solitary lives of
Gracie and Joe, and it's funny to see how fascinated Elizabeth is by their mother's
"messed up" tale.
Elizabeth puts up a show of grandeur while surreptitiously observing and dissecting every
aspect of Gracie's personality in the hopes of discovering the "truth" about her by the
time of her visit.
Elizabeth learns that she could have misjudged Gracie from the beginning after seeing how
cunning and sly she can be in May December.
What Takes Place at the End of May December
The day Charlie and Mary Atherton-Yoo graduate from high school marks the beginning of May
December's conclusion.
The final two children to leave the house before Gracie and Joe become empty-nesters,
Elizabeth's persistent presence only serves to heighten the already intense emotions around
this significant life event.
Elizabeth seems to have fully mastered Gracie's style and internalised her demeanour when
she shows up for the high school graduation ceremony, where she knows no one save Gracie
and her family.
Before leaving for Hollywood, the real Gracie, with her image in a notepad, has one last
message for Elizabeth.
When Gracie asks Elizabeth whether she thinks she understands her, Elizabeth responds that
she does.
With one more ruse under her sleeve, Gracie tells Elizabeth that her brilliant but quirky
son Georgie never should have made up the story of her brothers abusing her when she
was a youngster.
When Georgie shares that knowledge with Elizabeth, she is shocked, believing that Gracie was
unaware of her private conversation with him.
When Gracie admits that Georgie made up the "disgusting" tale, Elizabeth becomes subtly
enraged because she feels that she's been taken advantage of and misrepresented by the
two of them, which calls into question her whole "understanding" of Gracie.
An explanation of Gracie's encounter with the fox in the woods
Gracie skips breakfast with her family the morning of Charlie and Mary's graduation in
favour of taking her dogs and her shotgun into the woods.
When she spots a fox looking right into her eyes, she looks to be on the prowl, tracking
down any unwanted predators in the neighbourhood.
With her weapon held limply, Gracie gives the fox a misty, glimmering look that belies
her hollow insides.
As they stand there in silence, examining one other, Gracie seems to realise something
about her life and herself.
The sequence may also depict Gracie realising that Elizabeth is an intellectual predator
and that her Hollywood film poses a danger to destroy her reputation.
The Reason Joe Cries by Himself During Charlie & Mary's Graduation
Joe has been on a complex and reflective journey of self-reflection and his aspirations for
the future ever since Elizabeth entered his life.
Joe may want additional distance from Gracie once the kids leave for college, as seen by
his decision to skip Gracie's table during Charlie and Mary's graduation.
Because Joe had to mature so quickly in May and December, he undoubtedly lost out on many
common experiences that would have allowed him to live a normal life.
Joe's mom and child cry for different causes in this last photo taken in May December.
Joe is probably experiencing waves of remorse and sadness as he watches Charlie and Mary
graduate from high school—something that the real Vili Fualaau and presumably Joe never
accomplished.
He sobs because this personal chapter of motherhood is coming to a close and he is unsure of the
path his life will go after that.
It's possible that some of his tears come from his relief from a heavy burden.
Now that he is free from his parenting duties, Joe can finally follow his personal interests,
whether or not Gracie is involved.
Was Georgie Lying About the Brothers of Gracie?
It's hard to say for sure who lied to Elizabeth in May December—Gracie or Georgie regarding
Gracie's brothers.
One may argue that Georgie had a hidden agenda when he gave Elizabeth that information and
then promptly asked to be hired as the music supervisor for her movie.
Georgie could have made up the bit about his mother to give the impression that he'd done
Elizabeth a favour so that she would come back with one of her own.
However, Gracie does discuss her brothers frequently in May December, and Georgie's
knowledge would provide light on Gracie's actual nature, which is virtually all Elizabeth
is interested in in the movie.
Elizabeth Wants To See Gracie's "Truth" Several Times.
Elizabeth appears in May December's last scene dressed up as Gracie on the Hollywood movie
set where she is starring.
The shot reflects Elizabeth's intermittent interpretation of the role and is meant to
resemble the perspective of a production camera that records several takes of a scene for
the "Gracie movie".
The director is prepared to move on to the next set up after a few takes, but Elizabeth
requests another, saying that with each take, she's coming closer to Gracie's "truth".
Elizabeth really seemed to be absolutely bewildered on the set, which suggests that her strange
method acting tactics hadn't helped her at all in recreating the genuine Gracie.