I was reading this fantastic piece in the The New Yorker by Grace Henes about takeaways from Alfred Hitchcock films during the pandemic (find it here). So with inspiration from Henes's article, here are quarantine takeaways from Elaine May's four fabulous films.
A New Leaf
Plot Synopsis: Through his own mismanagement of funds, a former wealthy trust fund kid finds himself a poor man. After devising a plan to sustain his lavish lifestyle by marrying and then murdering a rich, single, and isolated woman, he eventually resigns himself to love.
Quarantine Takeaway: Being single and isolated is not as bad as it seems.
The Heartbreak Kid
Plot Synopsis: After a short courtship, a young couple gets married. While on their honeymoon, the husband meets and pursues another woman, abandoning his new wife.
Quarantine Takeaway: With all of this extra time to think, don't act on every impulse.
Mikey and Nicky
Plot Synopsis: Nicky, a low-level gangster convinced that there is a hit out on his life, calls his old friend Mikey for help. Over the course of a single night in Philadelphia, their friendship falls apart through betrayal, self-preservation, and the toxicity of masculinity.
Quarantine Takeaway: A little distance from your friends can be a good thing.
Ishtar
Plot Synopsis: Two passionate yet terrible songwriters find themselves alone after losing their partners and money. They book a gig as lounge singers at a hotel in Morocco and accidentally get caught up in crossfire between revolutionaries and the CIA.
Quarantine Takeaway: Quarantine hobbies are great, but they're no reason to quit your day job.