Red Carpet: “Moonlight”
Directed by: Barry Jenkins
Starring: Trevante Rhodes, Andre Hollande, Janelle Monae, Naomi Harris
Music by: Nicholas Britell
We can divide our lives into 3 stages: childhood, adulthood and old age. We can meet with some kind of that division in movie ,,Moonlight”. The film presents three stages in the life of the main character. It shows us the difficulties and issues he has to face with like: his own sexuality and identity. We are following his way of becoming adult and we grow up with him.
Each of 3 stages is called the name which people who meet and know him use.
I.
LITTLE: In Liberty City, Miami, Cuban drug dealer Juan finds Chiron, a child who goes by the nickname "Little". The boy spends all day with him and his girlfriend Teresa. The boy does not want to return to his drugs addicted mother Paula. Chiron keeps spending time with Juan, who teaches him how to swim and give him advice. We can see how strong bond connects this small boy and his new friend Juan.
II.
CHIRON: Now a teenager, Chiron avoids his classmates and spends time with Teresa, who lives of her own since Juan's death. On another night, Kevin (his friend) visits Chiron at the beach near his house. They two discuss their ambitions and the nickname, "Black," that Kevin has given Chiron. After a moment, they kiss.
III.
BLACK: Now "Black", an adult Chiron deals drugs in Atlanta. He receives calls from his mother, who asks him to visit her at the drug treatment center where she now lives. One night, he receives a call from Kevin, who wants to meet him since so long time the have not seen each other. Chiron forgives his mother and goes to a bar in which Kevin works as a cook. After dinner they drive to Kevin's home. Kevin tells Chiron that, although his life may not have turned out the way he hoped, he is still happy. Chiron thinks back to his time as a child on the beach.
I have to admit that the film is very strong. It raises very important questions about the boy who lives without father and cannot find any place for him. It shows how deep influence on our lives have people when we are only children. The scene in drug treatment center really makes me cry. The woman has realized that she has destroyed her life and mostly her child’s life. Despite the fact that you can see great actors and listen to very specific music for me this film wasn’t the Oscars one. I think that Moonlight has won the Oscar for the best picture because it shows wide field of the most known problems which have been touching people for ages. There are: strong drugs addiction, rejection, incomprehension and intolerance.
However, I think that this film should watch everyone to be aware of the problems which some of the children have to face with and to understand how important good bond between a child and a parent and people who surround him is. I hope you will like it! Thanks for reading.
Zuzanna Wis, class 2C