MOONLIGHT
US, 2016, 111 minutes, Colour.
Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Janelle Monae, Andre Holland.
Directed by Barry Jenkins.
The preview was in the morning and, that afternoon, news that Moonlight had won the Golden Globe for Best film, Drama. It had some strong competition but it is a compelling film.
Much of the setting is familiar to moviegoers, especially the films from the 1990s showing poverty, drug deals, the experience of racism, life in the hood. While this is the setting for Moonlight, the audience is invited to look at situations, characters and issues from a different, more humane, perspective.
This is the story of Chiron, told in three chapters, with three different actors taking the role of the boy (Alex R. Herbert), the teenager (Ashton Sanders) , the man (Travante Rhodes) -one difficulty being that the actor portraying the teenager seems more slight physically than expected and not the kind of frame that could bulk up to the adult Chiron. There are three chapters: Little which is the nickname for the boy, Chiron which is his name, Black which is the nickname given to him by his friend, Kevin.
The city is Miami, some ventures into the centre of the city downtown but by and large life in the suburbs, the African- American suburbs (the only white characters in the film seen at the end in the diner where Kevin works as chef).
Chiron is a quiet boy, particularly reticent, even speaking few words when he is encouraged. He is bullied by the boys at school, chased, stones thrown at windows… He lives with his mother, Paula, a persuasive Naomie Harris, who is a drug addict and treats her son angrily, not showing any affection.
One of the best things that happens to Chiron is that Juan, a drug dealer, finds him in an abandoned house and befriends him, taking him home, Juan’s girlfriend, Teresa, able to coax him to speak. Juan, a very sympathetic Mahershala Ali, becomes the father Chiron never had, affectionate, interested, with a wonderful scene where he enable Chiron to trust him and to learn to float and to swim.
It is Juan who explains the title: Juan is from Cuba where he was told that black skin in the moonlight looks blue.
One of the aspects of the bullies is that they call the little boy faggot.
The teenage Chiron goes to school and the bullying continues, brutally physical at times, even getting Kevin to punch his friend. Chiron’s mother is still the same, and Teresa is the continued support. Chiron’s reticence is still characteristic and his wondering about his identity, his sexuality – dramatised very quietly by a scene with Kevin on the beach.
The third part of the film takes place 10 years later, Chiron having been in prison, bulked up, and really assuming the character and role of Juan. The main drama of this section includes a visit to his mother in rehab and some kind of reconciliation and a tear. But, it is also the friendship with Kevin, a phone call, a visit, a meal, the lyrics of a song, remembrance of the past – and the openness for a future.
Director Barry Jenkins has created a film that is always interesting, that is very moving, that has touches of poetry, and a humanity that we may not have been expecting.
1. The title? The explanation of black skin seeming blue in the moonlight? Juan as blue? Chiron ultimately imitate imitating Blue?
2. The African- American setting? Miami and the suburbs, the city, the streets in the blocks, homes, school, the sea on the beaches, the diner? The musical score, especially the song for Chiron and Kevin?
3. The presentation of Chiron’s story? The three parts? Little, Chiron, Black? The three different actors, resemblances and differences? The finale of the boys Chiron looking out to the sea, looking back?
4. The introduction to Juan, the drug deals, on the street, his dealer, the client upset, supplying the drugs, payment? The world of dealing? The clients, Chiron’s mother and the others? Little asking Juan about the drugs, his reply, the tear in his eye? Teressa and her relationship with Juan?
5. Juan seeing the chase, Little being chased by the boys, hiding in the house, this smashing the windows? Juan coming to the door, Chiron’s reticence, not speaking, yet following him, the meal, his hearty appetite, staying the night, eventually talking with Teresa? Juan taking him home, his mother doing the drugs, her anger? Chiron being called a faggot? The bond with Juan, driving with him, talking with him, the swimming lessons, trusting and learning to float and swim? Father-figure? To Reza as a substitute mother? His concern about being called a faggot?
6. The teenage Chiron, his scrawny look, his age, at home, his mother and the drugs, her boyfriends? Demanding cash from him? The offscreen death of Juan? Teresa, Chiron staying with her, her teaching him to make the bed? At classes, the teacher, the boys mocking, the verbal abuse, the physical abuse? His friendship with Kevin? From the past? The episode on the beach, the attraction, kiss, fondling? The effect on Chiron? The gang urging Kevin to punch Chiron, his doing so, asking him to fall down? Chiron getting the chair, bashing the bully? The discussions with the principal? The police, taking him away?
7. 10 years passing, Chiron and his being bulked up, imitating Juan, the car, the gold teeth, the drug deals and the clients, the block? Scenes of him exercising, the explanation of his bulk? His talk about the prison, the dealer, being given the block? The visit to his mother in rehab, the declarations of love, tears? Kevin’s phone call, the talk? Chiron driving to see Kevin, Kevin and his history, prison, a cook, with Samantha, his son? The scenes in the diner, the customers (the only white characters in the film)? The discussions with Kevin, why Kevin called? Why Chiron drove? The meal, chef’s special, the drinking of the wine? The playing of the song and its lyrics, the drive home? Chiron explaining he hadn’t touched anyone, been touched since the beach? The image of the two men together, and the young boy looking back?
8. A familiar world of African- Americans, poverty, drugs…? Yet a different perspective? Drugs, violence and poverty, yet kindness, affection, the struggle for identity, sexuality?
