Moonlight (2016)

Written by CinemaSerf on January 2, 2024

It's the third segment of this that's the most interesting but the preceding two are essential in helping us to understand the situation in which the young "Chiron" (Alex R. Hibbert, then an effective Ashton Sanders as a troubled teenager before finally, by this latter point, Trevante Rhodes) finds himself. Initially we see a young boy living in Miami with his crack-addicted mother "Paula" (Naomie Harris). He grows up being shunned and bullied at school with his search for some sort of stability and guidance through life coming largely from his pal "Kevin", neighbourhood dealer "Juan" (Mahershala Ali) and his generously spirited girlfriend "Teresa" (Janelle Monáe). It's these people that put him on a path - a twisting and uncomfortable path - to his own self-discovery and a start in believing in himself and in his own identity. It's a coming of age drama, sure, but it carefully and delicately looks at the life of a young boy who evolves amidst an environment of indifference, confusion and intolerance. Of a lad who is coming to terms with his own sexual identity with little if any peer support to assist with this complex process of maturity. His grasp on decency and integrity is sorely challenged all through his life, but he never loses a sense of what is right and the last half hour is as poignant a tale of manhood as you're likely to see on screen. The acting across the board is pretty top drawer, as is the powerfully delivered but sparingly written dialogue. This is not a festival of endless chatter, but a presentation of scenarios that we can assess as "Chiron" grows up and we share in his life choices. It's emotional and engaging, not without a little humour to lighten it at times and we maybe even get the start of a love story? Well worth a watch a few times, i'd say.