Moonlight
Overview
Moonlight is a 2016 coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Barry Jenkins, based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, famously after the wrong winner was initially announced (La La Land). The film is structured in three chapters, each depicting a different stage in the life of Chiron, a young Black man growing up in Miami. The first chapter, "Little," follows Chiron as a child (Alex Hibbert). He is small, shy, and bullied. He is taken under the wing of Juan (Mahershala Ali), a drug dealer who becomes a father figure. Juan teaches Chiron how to swim and tells him that it is okay to be gay. He also sells drugs to Chiron's mother Paula (Naomie Harris), who is addicted to crack. The second chapter, "Chiron," follows Chiron as a teenager (Ashton Sanders). He is still bullied, and he is still confused about his sexuality. He has a sexual encounter with his only friend, Kevin (Jharrel Jerome), but Kevin later betrays him by participating in a beating. Chiron snaps and beats his bully with a chair. He is arrested and sent to a juvenile detention center. The third chapter, "Black," follows Chiron as an adult (Trevante Rhodes). He has become a drug dealer in Atlanta, and he has transformed his body into a muscular, intimidating physique. He is called "Black." He receives a call from Kevin, who is now a cook in Miami. He returns to Miami and visits Kevin. They talk about their lives, and Kevin cooks him a meal. Chiron admits that he has never been with anyone else since Kevin. The film ends with Chiron holding Kevin, finally allowing himself to be vulnerable. Moonlight is a film about identity, masculinity, and the search for love. It is a quiet, beautiful, and deeply emotional film. Mahershala Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Juan. The film also won Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Naomie Harris. Moonlight is a landmark film, a masterpiece of independent cinema and a powerful exploration of Black gay identity.
