We’ve been lucky enough to see some great releases from proudly LGBT directors this year, including Emma Seligman’s Bottoms and Ira Sachs’ Passages. Undeniably, one of the most prominent LGBT voices in cinema both historically and today is Todd Haynes, a director who spans four decades with his provocative films. From challenging early films like Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story and Poison to recent more mainstream successes like the miniseries Mildred Pierce and the Oscar nominated Carol, Haynes has been crafting fascinating releases all throughout his career.

The latest film from Haynes, May December, follows the director’s pattern of interrogating the complex psychology and relationships of female characters, this time with Hollywood icons Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore starring. Following Portman’s character, an actress, as she attempts to understand Moore’s character, a woman famous for her scandalous age gap relationship now entering its second decade, Haynes based this story on the real-life case of Mary Kay Letourneau, continuing his creative habit of blending fact and fiction. However, this isn’t purely a drama – like much of his oeuvre, Haynes injects a good deal of campy humour here, both easing and intensifying the discomfort at the heart of the film.

Like other films from the iconic director, May December is another transgressive feather in Haynes’ cap sure to do well come awards season – come and see if you don’t want to miss the hype.