Moonlight
From the very opening shot, Barry Jenkins directorial debut Moonlight completely engrosses you within Chiron's experience as a gay man within American society, utilising a triptych format in order to explore the journey of a man from neglected childhood, to angry adolescence to self realisation in adulthood
One sequence that particularly had an impact on me as an audience is the fight sequence between Chiron and Kevin, the usage of shot reverse shot POV alongside the diegetic punching sounds reinforce Chiron's position as an outsider, in comparison to Chiron, Kevin hides his sexuality to avoid this outsider status, as men, this level of aggressive, dominant behaviour is innately expected of them, and the expectations of African American society deem homosexuality as incompatible with conventional masculinity, highlighted by Kevin's various ramblings about the different girls he's been with in act 2, showing how he puts on a front of masculine bravado, interestingly, we never learn whether these stories are true or not, or if there all just a ruse to disguise his true self.
In the 3rd part of the film, we see how Chiron has now conformed to masculine expectations, he's consistently filmed from a low angle, symbolising his conventionally masculine sense of dominant power, he adheres to this rigid expression of uber macho hyper masculinity, his gold plated set of teeth to his car and his strong physique all serve to highlight how Chiron has now been moulded by his time in prison into the aggressive man that we see now. In the final sequence between Chiron and Kevin, the usage of long takes, with shot reverse shots of Kevin and Chiron's facial expressions creates a simple, yet emotionally effective way of showing Chiron beginning to embrace his true self, as well as beginning to embrace vulnerability, this is paired with the final shot showing younger Chiron looking out to the ocean, completely engulfed in blue, symbolising his vulnerability as well as showing how his life has come full circle.
As an audience we are given insight into the experience of a gay man within African American society, and the expectations of masculinity that surround him, Chiron's story becomes a wider telling of a mans changing view of masculinity in relation to his own sexuality. By the end, Chiron is finally given acceptance from somebody else, his saying "you're the only man that's ever touched me" symbolises his first step towards self acceptance.
Ultimately, Moonlight is a powerful story showing the gay experience through the lens of 3 stages in a mans life as he approaches self acceptance, reckoning with masculinity as he struggles to find a surrogate father figure.