Moonlight
"Who is you Chiron?"
A masterpiece that I believe only gets better with every rewatch. I feel a lot of people go into it with expectations of what it's going to be and the film just isn't any of them. Rather than being mostly about Chirons struggle with his sexuality which it is, it's actually more focused on his masculinity.
Chapter 1: Little
Of the three it's the most subtle just as important as the other 2. Maharshal Alis Juan leaves such an immense impact on Littles life and you really feel that within the movie. With him around you feel love and a sense of safety. We also see the start of Littles struggle with his masculinity. In order to survive you have to perform. you have to act tough, be tough, and not take shit from anyone yet Little cannot because he has no sense of self. I love the little glimpses of innocence we get here. Chiron gleefully dancing in the mirror sticks out to me we the purest expression of joy in the entire film.
Chapter 2: Chiron
Juans absense can be felt immensely, Chiron struggles to not cry anytime he's even mentioned. His mother's decay as foreshadowed heavily in the prior chapter is at its absolute worst and the actresses performance is absolutely incredible. One detail I really liked was with Kevin's bisexuality. He's not tested like Chiron because he didn't "act" gay, he performs to societies view of masculinity and thus is left alone. It's also with Kevin that we see Chiron truly open up, anytime Chiron looks at him we see Little in his eyes. The tender scene on the beach I think shows this the best with the sound of the waves and pitch black foreground showing that they disappear into the moment. Another detail I like is that Kevin's performance only ends up hurting himself as it's what ultimately kills his relationship with Chiron. Toxic masculinity only hurts everyone, men included. A cycle of violence perpetuated with Kevin and with Chiron when he eventually snaps.
Chapter 3: Black
Taking on the nickname Kevin gave him Black finally learns how to perform to societies view of masculinity. He had to in order to survive. He builds his body as a suit of armor as protection so that nobody can ever hurt him ever again. He walks and talks hard, carrying himself very similarly to his father figure Juan. However the second love renters his life in the form of Kevin we see this hard gangster fade away as Little and Chiron come to the forefront. Over the course of the movie people cook for Chiron, a timeless act of love. I really enjoy the hopeful not the film ends on, we through Kevins perspective into Chiron soul as his musculature and walls break down. His mother is set on the right path in rehab, Kevin stopped performing and chose to be himself, and Chiron finally got love and safety
Moonlight isn't loud it's subtle and silent. It constructs it's world in a grounded way as we follow a story deeply realistic and hopeful. Even in moonlight black boys can be blue. We don't have to be what we're told to, we can choose to be who we are. Much like how Black by the end of the film transforms himself into Blue. We can do the same.
Some closing notes the performances all around are phenomenal. The 3 leads are the standouts and ground the film in their sincerity. The cinematography is gorgeous and every element is intentional and works beautifully in crafting the story.
Moonlight is easily one of the most important films of our generation and I'm so glad it won it's years Oscars. If this is the future of cinema we are on the right track.