Moonlight

Barry Jenkins' Moonlight has its protagonist as the heart of the matter, purely visuals based. The descriptions henceforth are presented mostly through pictures & pictures alone. First, the director lays the foundation of a neighbourhood. You'll notice everything is natural. The people. The underground, domestic crimes. All. This is crucial because without a cup, you can't fill the fluid in. Only after constructing the setting, you are introduced to the substance of the celluloid you're about to watch - Chiron, as Little (Alex Hibbert).

The boy is lost, both literally & figuratively. He's silent. He's unhappy with something. There's an abnormality going on in his life. But he wouldn't talk. It is the character of Juan played excellently by Mahershala Ali who befriends, mentors & opens the boy up. Juan shares his past, and Little could connect his current state to it. He is taught how to 'swim' himself. He is taught to 'see' everything. In this Act I, you continue to learn about the main character. He is a victim of bully. He is nicknamed by others. And, he is trying to shred off his 'soft' shell. He ponders when he's alone. There's a scene where the school boys compare each other's manhood, hinting at a teenage transition that's about to happen soon. With an unyielding scene in which Little asks about the meaning of 'faggot' & Juan tears up due to shame and guilt for his profession, the beginning episode to our main character ends.

There is but one major flaw in Part 1 of the narrative. Chiron's mum, Paula's first scene of introduction shows her as a caring, protective mother. Through her initial projection onscreen, we begin to know there are 2 separate parts in the same society, portrayed simply through a knuckle-fist prompt scene. Since the mother is good, you are left wondering what could be Chiron's actual problem & why is he not syncing in the society he's meant into? And then the abrupt shocker occurred. Paula out of nowhere, is a druggie. Another tacked on scene appears where she scolds Juan for being responsible for her addiction. Where did all these come from out of the blue? Such a sudden change in Paula's characterization throws you off guard. It is as if you're watching 2 different characters. And even when the picture moves on, this malfunction still dawdles in our minds. Remove that particular sequence, and we'll end up with an exceptional film.

Syd Field's books have mentioned about the most formative time of a person's life, that of 9 years old to 18. Any traumatic events that transpire within this period is bound to change the course of a lifetime. It is so true in Chiron's case. This bookend is named after his real name, meaning he quits from being Little by the end of Second Act by weaving through a gruelling adolescence. He smokes pot, discovers his sexual orientation, suffers from betrayal & extreme bully before ending up in juvie. You feel really pitiful of him. A child is born innocent. And the director captures how an innocent soul gets contaminated by negative modules from time to time.

It is at this point that you'll realize that Moonlight is actually the story of Juan from childhood. With theory, practical & experience tangled with destiny, Black has built himself from the ground, from the choice he has made. In a way, this motion picture is essentially about self-discovery & transformation; how time & circumstances can shape us into the individuals we are today. Black is now Juan. He settles off score with his mum for her wrongdoings & bad parenting. And finally, he reunites with the one man he grew up attracted to, Kevin (André Holland) with an interlude of 'Hello Stranger'. Every emotional arcs, characters' purpose & story points are no longer pending.

James Laxton's cinematography & Nicholas Britell's empowering theme score for the film are the two technical outstanders you'll miss after the show ends. The way the former uses handycam to bring out the effect of running for life, 360° surround turn to tell continuous stream of events & partially submerged camera in water are great pieces of work! Aging effect across 3 decades is fabulously done, particularly witnessed in Paula's (Naomie Harris) anatomical & physical feature changes after being a crackhead for years.