Director Karen Cinorre’s bold vision is brought to life in beautiful fashion by cinematographer Sam Levy who, after working on films like Lady Bird and Frances Ha , knows a thing or two about creating a cinematic environment for strong women to thrive.
Echoing the dreamy undertones of Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Virgin Suicides, Mayday regales with stunning cinematography (it is shot by Lady Bird director of photography Sam Levy), as well as costumes and production design that create a distinct and visceral world.
Levy, who is famous for his contributions to Noah Baumbach films and most recently Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut Lady Bird , brings an immersive beauty to the film that feels alluring in how brightly lit is and the extensive use of extreme wide shots but it is overly done to the point that there is a suspicious, off-kilter feel behind it that lends a sense of unease for its characters.
Chief among them, aside from the terrific supporting cast, is cinematographer Sam Levy (“Lady Bird,” “Frances Ha,” also a producer here) and composer Colin Stetson (“Hereditary,” “The Rover”), both of whom help give the movie its softly ethereal and melancholy qualities.