Moonlight

Moonlight is a not so happy coming of age America Drama written by Barry Jenkins that takes place in the not so distant past of Miami Florida. It portrays the life of Chiron from childhood, to teenager, to adult having come full circle in the life of what many inner city children face, drugs, single parent families, gang violence, and little hope for the future.

Chiron is played by Alex Hibbert in his first movie appearance with an opening screen of him running away from bullies into an abandoned housing complex. In the first part of the film entitled “i. Little” Chiron is found by Juan (Mahershala Ali) who acts as his father figure during his childhood. Chiron is brought into his home and given a meal by what will become his two adult influences during his later life. His single mother Paula (Naomie Harris) is upset with Chiron once he shows up after being missing for a day and night. She has an instant dislike to Juan for reasons we find out later in Chiron life story. The only positive events in Chiron day occur with his best friend Kevin (Jaden Piner) who he becomes emotionally attached to.

In part two entitled “ii. Chiron” we find a teenager Chiron (Ashton Sanders) being harassed by bullies and physically abused by his mother to support her growing drug problem. He continues to be bullied at school so he goes to the beach which is where he can find safety away from his situation where he find his friend Kevin and they show their true feelings for each other. After such a critical moment in his life, comes the turning point the next day when he is set upon by bullies again who have pulled Kevin into a childhood game in which you are supposed to attack another child. Chiron is beaten badly comes to school the next day where he attacks his tormentor and hauled away by the police.

In the final scene “iii. Black”, Chiron (Trevante Rhodes) has taken on the role of his father figure Juan and leading a solitary existence with no romantic relationships. He receives a phone call from Kevin that starts a new turning point in his life that brings him back to his home town to mend relationships and become aware of his full emotional attachment to Kevin.

vu le 11 janvier 2017 au Million Dollar Theater (Los Angeles)

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