Moonlight (2016) Analysis

5/5

*****Spoilers****

I was worried about all the hype about this film. From all the review tag lines all I got across was "Gay, black, coming of age story" that was the inferred message. I don't like to see trailers before I see films so I was going in not knowing much and I'm so glad that was the case.

I find it very hard to find anything wrong with this film. This film is stunning and it absolutely deserves all the awards and accolades it has gotten.

What stands out to me in this film is the amazing mesmerising performances from all ages and the writing is so restrained and pulled back and feels very raw and real. But what I love most is the cinematography. The colours, the framing, and the soundtrack. There is a lot of use of repetition which is subtle yet beautiful.

I love love love that it is an all black cast, I'm sick of the token "asian" or "black" or "hispanic" person. But this film wasn't about that. This film was about this one guy. About him understanding his identity. It doesn't feel like a "gay movie". It's not political it's personal.

I was surprised that some of the characters which might usually be stereotyped as homophobic were actually accepting. Which I think is much more true to life. None of us are just one thing.

One of my favourite lines is "You could be gay, but never let no body call you no faggot".

This film is elegant in it's simplicity while covering such complex characters and lives.

I am so glad the film did not show him fucking women as some sort of internalised homophobia, but because they chose not to show it doesn't mean it didn't happen. It carefully scripts him saying "You're the only man I ever let touch me" he doesn't say the only "one" or "person".



(The characters are facing away from camera, symbolising the characters rejection and shame. Shot in darkness)



(This shot is warmer coloured in tone and characters are facing camera symbolising acceptance.)

I think the ending is beautiful and a mirror reversal of them together on the beach with his head on his shoulder. Maybe after they've had sex, or maybe it's just comfortable friendship, but it's up to your interpretation. Are you a realist? An optimist? Or a pessimist? We don't even see them kiss at the end, the framing of the shot is great, they are standing wide apart at the edges of the shot and neither moves toward the other.