"No more hope of holding your body in the moonlight. Did I fall in love for nothing?"
~ Michael Damian
Moonlight is like no other film I've seen this year. A film so raw and emotionally honest it's almost hard to watch. However, don't let that scare you off. Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight is based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin. It is a rare cinematic exploration into African-American masculinity and queer identity. In its own reserved, sad, and elegant way, it's nearly a masterpiece.
Set in Miami during the 1980s, the story follows a young man named Chiron (aka "Little" aka "Black") and told in three vignettes: 1.) His childhood - he's bullied 2.) Teenage years - he's bullied and confused 3.) Early adulthood - well, let's not give it all away :-) This film feels like a game changer. It takes familiar themes (bullying, drug addiction, poverty) and defies stereotypes. The film is melancholy and tender. James Laxton’s cinematography is exquisite. Moonlight is a worthy film sure to cast a different tint on the Academy Awards ceremony come February 26.
The trailer for Moonlight (courtesy of YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJj12tJzqc
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