Moonlight film review
Discussion points :
Chiron is a character of few words. Why is this? How do the three actors use body language
to communicate Chiron’s emotions to the audience? Why is he reluctant to make eye contact with people?
Chiron is a character of a few words because the situations he has grown up in has made him become quite suppressed. Chiron's mother was a drug addict which meant that when she didn't get her drugs or she didn't have money she would be aggressive towards her son. This made Chiron feel unwanted and scared because his mother would call swear at him and he couldn't do anything about it. Despite the fact that all three actors had to present Chiron as a shy character, the small amount of eye contact he made conveyed a lot of emotions. For example, the audience could see his love but uncertainty towards the people around him especially his best friend and mother.
Did anything about the Miami setting surprise you, compared to its party image in popular culture? How does the saturated colour capture the image of the city the filmmakers are trying to convey?
The Miami setting seemed more cool and quiet probably because people tend to stay indoors as they know there are drug addicts and gangs around. Parents would have usually kept children inside to keep them safe and away from the drug addicts. However, in a way the setting captured by the saturated colour suggests to the audience that this film was set during the 90's or early 2000's. The saturated colour signifies the purity of the film and shots, the filmmakers used this effect to show the realism of Miami.
What is the significance of Juan? How is his influence felt over the entire film, despite the fact he is only present in the first chapter?
Juan is a significant character because he played a father figure to Chiron in the first chapter. Juan and his wife had let Chiron in to their family and treated him like a son. Juan and his wife gave Chiron the love he deserved and didn't get from his own mother. Even though Juan was only present in the first chapter, his influence was felt over the film because Juan was the one who introduced Chiron to the beach in Miami but also Juan had helped Chiron feel more confident and speak up more. The fact that Juan was involved in drug dealing is visible through Chiron because he takes upon dealing in chapter three.
Several key sequences take place on the beach, or near the ocean. Why do you think the filmmakers centred so much of the film around this location?
The producers set the scenes near the ocean to show the influence of Juan in Chiron because Juan had introduced him to the beach but also, on the beach is where Chiron possibly found his identity and solved his struggles with his sexuality by sharing an intimate scene with his best friend Kevin. Chiron had held on to that moment throughout the next chapter of his life and the thought of that moment had brought him back and reunited with his friend Kevin.
Did anything about Chiron in the final chapter surprise you? To what extent do you think he is being true to “himself” before and after his reunion with Kevin? What did you make of his various nicknames?
The fact that Chiron built up the courage to see Kevin and tell him that he was the only person to ever touch him was surprising because some people expected Chiron to have a girlfriend or to have moved on. I think Chiron has been true to himself because he is the same person from chapter one to three but just more confident and verbal towards others. Chiron still loved his mother till the very end despite her raising him poorly and being a drug addict, he continued to meet her but also built his own life. His nicknames play apart in his life and show how we went from a 'lil man' to a big man who is in control of his own life now.
Write about it:
Bring your ideas together in a review and share it on our Into Film clubs’ website. You could include a summary of the story, mention other films that it’s similar to, describe what you particularly liked or disliked and give it your star rating.
In my opinion, 'Moonlight' was a good film in terms of narrative and an excellent film in terms of editing. To be honest I wouldn't watch this film again because it's just something I wouldn't watch. I like the fact that this film was different and was split into three chapters but also I like the fact that there was a lot of pauses and silence which built up suspense and tension. The paused made the whole experience feel more realistic because it showed how the characters thought and made the audience feel like they are going along on the journey with them. Overall, it was a good movie and I would give it a 4 star rating.
What does the future hold for Chiron? As a piece of creative writing, write the next chapter in his life, set a few years after the film concludes. How has he changed? What are his relationships like with those around him?
I think that Chiron is still the same person he was during the first three chapter, quiet but can stand his ground now. I think he would have become closer with his friend Kevin but would not have become a couple. I also think that just like Juan had met Chiron, Chiron would meet a kid just like him.
Did anything about the Miami setting surprise you, compared to its party image in popular culture? How does the saturated colour capture the image of the city the filmmakers are trying to convey?
The Miami setting seemed more cool and quiet probably because people tend to stay indoors as they know there are drug addicts and gangs around. Parents would have usually kept children inside to keep them safe and away from the drug addicts. However, in a way the setting captured by the saturated colour suggests to the audience that this film was set during the 90's or early 2000's. The saturated colour signifies the purity of the film and shots, the filmmakers used this effect to show the realism of Miami.
What is the significance of Juan? How is his influence felt over the entire film, despite the fact he is only present in the first chapter?
Juan is a significant character because he played a father figure to Chiron in the first chapter. Juan and his wife had let Chiron in to their family and treated him like a son. Juan and his wife gave Chiron the love he deserved and didn't get from his own mother. Even though Juan was only present in the first chapter, his influence was felt over the film because Juan was the one who introduced Chiron to the beach in Miami but also Juan had helped Chiron feel more confident and speak up more. The fact that Juan was involved in drug dealing is visible through Chiron because he takes upon dealing in chapter three.
Several key sequences take place on the beach, or near the ocean. Why do you think the filmmakers centred so much of the film around this location?
The producers set the scenes near the ocean to show the influence of Juan in Chiron because Juan had introduced him to the beach but also, on the beach is where Chiron possibly found his identity and solved his struggles with his sexuality by sharing an intimate scene with his best friend Kevin. Chiron had held on to that moment throughout the next chapter of his life and the thought of that moment had brought him back and reunited with his friend Kevin.
Did anything about Chiron in the final chapter surprise you? To what extent do you think he is being true to “himself” before and after his reunion with Kevin? What did you make of his various nicknames?
The fact that Chiron built up the courage to see Kevin and tell him that he was the only person to ever touch him was surprising because some people expected Chiron to have a girlfriend or to have moved on. I think Chiron has been true to himself because he is the same person from chapter one to three but just more confident and verbal towards others. Chiron still loved his mother till the very end despite her raising him poorly and being a drug addict, he continued to meet her but also built his own life. His nicknames play apart in his life and show how we went from a 'lil man' to a big man who is in control of his own life now.
Write about it:
Bring your ideas together in a review and share it on our Into Film clubs’ website. You could include a summary of the story, mention other films that it’s similar to, describe what you particularly liked or disliked and give it your star rating.
In my opinion, 'Moonlight' was a good film in terms of narrative and an excellent film in terms of editing. To be honest I wouldn't watch this film again because it's just something I wouldn't watch. I like the fact that this film was different and was split into three chapters but also I like the fact that there was a lot of pauses and silence which built up suspense and tension. The paused made the whole experience feel more realistic because it showed how the characters thought and made the audience feel like they are going along on the journey with them. Overall, it was a good movie and I would give it a 4 star rating.
What does the future hold for Chiron? As a piece of creative writing, write the next chapter in his life, set a few years after the film concludes. How has he changed? What are his relationships like with those around him?
I think that Chiron is still the same person he was during the first three chapter, quiet but can stand his ground now. I think he would have become closer with his friend Kevin but would not have become a couple. I also think that just like Juan had met Chiron, Chiron would meet a kid just like him.
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