Moonlight

Being a kid is tough. I can remember countless times running away from threatening bullies in the schoolyard; the teasing and name calling and feeling out of place. All of the lows that exist among the highs of an ice cream sundae or a bed time story. Moonlight, written and directed by Barry Jenkins, is the chronicle of an African American boy, who grows up in a culture that largely ostracizes him. He is struggling to find himself and where he fits in the world. This movie has profound wisdom to offer. In my opinion, it is the best movie of the year.

The first thing you notice about Moonlight is the authenticity. Everything about the setting and characters in the struggling suburb of Miami, Florida feels  genuine. The movie begins with an interaction between a drug pusher and his boss working the street. Their banter seems completely unscripted. The actors have mastered nuances of body language; the shuffle and sway of a life filled with hardship and fear. The film then makes a genius transition, with our adolescent main character Chrion running past these two men, with a group of boys chasing after him. The tone is set for the story that we are about to witness. This boy is an outsider. He is running from the other children who want to hurt him, and later in life he is running from himself.

Moonlight features an incredibly moving score, with a haunting and sorrowful theme that is reprised throughout the film. The music swells like waves on the beach that is a central part of the film. The ocean represents a kind of healing here. Something that Chiron goes back to at all stages of his life.

The cinematography by James Laxton, who has worked on a number of smaller budget films, is exquisite. Filmed in and around Miami Florida, the vibrant landscape fills you with a sense of anticipation. Palm trees sway in the glow of the moon. The ocean wraps around Juan and Chiron. The camera bobs up and down from under the waves. Green grass and asphalt simmer in the hot sun. You feel the heat of the place, as well as its isolation.

Each young man who plays Chiron throughout his life deserves to be nominated for best actor, including the adolescent Alex Hibbert, who could not have been more than 10 or 11 when the movie filmed. The role of Juan, played by the fantastic Mahershala Ali (you will recognize him from Netflix’s House of Cards and Luke Cage), is a beacon of hope for Chiron. His performance has already earned him a New York Critics Circle Vest Supporting Actor award. Juan shows Chiron kindness, compassion and acceptance that even his own mother can’t give. Not that Juan isn’t without his own demons; far from it in fact. This is another strength of the characters in the film. They are all flawed, struggling to find their own way in life.

As we see it, Chrion has only one peer befriend him throughout his life. Kevin is played by three different actors throughout the film as well. The story of Kevin and Chiron’s relationship culminates in a performance by the excellent Andre Holland. Holland has recently made a name for himself starring in 2014’s Selma, and many TV shows, including American Horror Story and The Knick.

Moonlight is a movie about love and yearning for acceptance. It is about feeling like an outsider and the struggle to stay true to yourself. These themes are deep and rich and alive in every frame of the movie. Rarely do movies tackle such broad subjects with the intimacy and skill exhibited here. No matter your age, gender, or sexual orientation you will connect with the struggles of Chiron in this immersive film.