Moonlight is a coming-of-age film that centred on three defining chapters in his life (triptych structure), written and directed by Barry Jenkins. It tells the story of Chiron, a young black man growing up in an impoverished area of Miami. Sidelined by his drug addicted mother. As he grows older, Chiron struggles with his identity and sexuality including the physical and emotional abuse he endures growing up.1. Chiron is a character of few words - why? How do the three actors use body language to communicate Chiron’s emotions to the audience? Why is he reluctant to make eye contact with people?
Chiron is a character who, throughout the film, is harassed for the way he dresses, looks etc. This explains his isolated nature; he is trying to avoid the public eye. His lack of eye contact is reinforcing this, he doesn't want to feel judged mainly because of his sexuality.
2. Did anything about the Miami setting surprise you, compared to its party image in popular culture? How does the saturated colour capture the image of the city the filmmakers are trying to convey?
Cinematographer James Laxton worked with Alex Bickel, a colorist, they spent about 100 hours after filming fine-tuning the color grade digitally. They emulated the color characteristics of three different film stocks to show the evolution of the main character. In part one, when he’s known as “Little,” they emulated Fujifilm stock, which brings out lush greens and blues; in part two, as he becomes the teenage “Chiron,” they emulated Agfa stock, which has cyan in its highlights and makes things seem a little off-kilter; in part three, when he transforms into the adult “Black,” they moved to Kodak Film stock, which gives a polished, Hollywood look. In other words, colour shows a character's journey.
Cinematographer James Laxton worked with Alex Bickel, a colorist, they spent about 100 hours after filming fine-tuning the color grade digitally. They emulated the color characteristics of three different film stocks to show the evolution of the main character. In part one, when he’s known as “Little,” they emulated Fujifilm stock, which brings out lush greens and blues; in part two, as he becomes the teenage “Chiron,” they emulated Agfa stock, which has cyan in its highlights and makes things seem a little off-kilter; in part three, when he transforms into the adult “Black,” they moved to Kodak Film stock, which gives a polished, Hollywood look. In other words, colour shows a character's journey.
3. What is the significance of Juan? How is his influence felt over the entire film, despite the fact he is only present in the first chapter?
We see that Juan as an almost godly, father figure. Juan doesn't antagonise Chiron for his sexuality, instead accepting it. His acceptance lead to a butterfly effect - Chiron becomes the person he is because of Juan's influence.
4. Several key sequences take place on the beach, or near the ocean. Why do you think the filmmakers centred so much of the film around this location?
The film includes a reoccurring water motif; This links nicely to another reoccuring motif of the colour blue. In the film, water is evident when the scene is intimate, e.g, Chiron and Kevin are by the water when he enjoys his first sexual experience. Similarly,when Juan teaches Chiron how to swim, shots are extremely immersive, like we are in the water. It appears that in Moonlight, water is symbolic of vulnerability, change and fluidity.
The film includes a reoccurring water motif; This links nicely to another reoccuring motif of the colour blue. In the film, water is evident when the scene is intimate, e.g, Chiron and Kevin are by the water when he enjoys his first sexual experience. Similarly,when Juan teaches Chiron how to swim, shots are extremely immersive, like we are in the water. It appears that in Moonlight, water is symbolic of vulnerability, change and fluidity.
5. What did you make of his various nicknames?
Nicknames seem to reoccur throughout the film. The constant changing of Chiron's nickname alludes to his lack of identity or belonging to a community. His first nickname in the film is 'Little' - perhaps alluding to his insignificance and lack of presence in his younger years. At the end, he revisits the nickname 'Black', that was given to him by Kevin but he originally discarded. This signifies the end of his innocence, sparking a deliberate hardness that both protects and isolates him
6. Did anything about Chiron in the final chapter surprise you? To what extent do you think he is being true to “himself” before and after his reunion with Kevin?
Chiron may have turned to crime and followed into the vicious cycle of criminals, however, Chiron is now able to open up about his sexuality - he has found freedom to express it.
Nicknames seem to reoccur throughout the film. The constant changing of Chiron's nickname alludes to his lack of identity or belonging to a community. His first nickname in the film is 'Little' - perhaps alluding to his insignificance and lack of presence in his younger years. At the end, he revisits the nickname 'Black', that was given to him by Kevin but he originally discarded. This signifies the end of his innocence, sparking a deliberate hardness that both protects and isolates him
6. Did anything about Chiron in the final chapter surprise you? To what extent do you think he is being true to “himself” before and after his reunion with Kevin?
Chiron may have turned to crime and followed into the vicious cycle of criminals, however, Chiron is now able to open up about his sexuality - he has found freedom to express it.
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