Moonlight about gay
73 Moonlight () The Power of Moonlight (): Masculinity, Homophobia, and Healing By Claire Dunn Moonlight is an insightful and compelling independent film directed by Barry Jenkins that follows Chiron, a Black gay man, at three different points in his life.
This shows the reality for so many queer people who have homophobic parents. We follow him as he grows up in Liberty City, Miami with no father and a mother struggling with a crack addiction, plus all the pressure of being a Black boy.
More so than addressing homophobia in the Black community alone, it addresses ideals of masculinity in the Black community, how those ideals harm Black boys from a young age, especially those who do not fit into those gender norms like Chiron, and how those ideals create homophobia.
The scene plays in slow motion and the camera stands between Chiron and his mother. Chiron and his mother are standing at opposite ends of a hallway in their house. It tells us that this is going to be a story about masculinity and possibly about gayness. If you cry, you are not a man.
In a world where heterosexual white men are often put at the forefront in films, Moonlight is a breath of fresh air. Moonlight is a American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Barry Jenkins, based on Tarell Alvin McCraney 's unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.
They stare at each other; Paula looking angry with eyes full of hatred and Chiron with his relatively emotionless eyes. Chiron cannot escape discrimination even in his own home. Moonlight is one of my favorite films and I wish more people were aware of this beautifully told story.
If you are quiet and submissive, you are not a man. Both scenes I have described so far have the common thread of homophobia.
From the beginning of the film, Chiron is set apart and singled out by his peers. The film depicts Kevin, Chiron’s childhood friend and eventual romantic interest, as the typical hypermasculine “player”, just to show him being kind and sensitive later on when it comes to Chiron.
The handheld camera is incredibly shaky as it runs with Chiron. Additionally, Moonlight addresses the painful effects of hypermasculinity and homophobia as well as the possibility of healing from those effects. You cannot hear her say this—you can only read her lips—which adds to the emotional impact of the scene.
Moonlight depicts a journey of self-discovery and a queer love story which actually feels probable and tangible. We can also see the discrimination Chiron faces at home with his mother and her abuse of the power differences between them.
She makes fun of the way he walks and recognizes that he is different from all the other boys. This is what men, especially Black men, are told what masculinity is, both indirectly and directly.
Moonlight 2016 IMDb: Moonlight, American dramatic film released in that won the Academy Award for best picture
These ideals of masculinity stem from white patriarchy and have increased in the Black community over time. Moonlight is an insightful and compelling independent film directed by Barry Jenkins that follows Chiron, a Black gay man, at three different points in his life.
Paula, his mother, is wearing red with pink lighting behind her indicating her fiery mood and danger to Chiron. We follow him as he grows up in Liberty City, Miami with no father and a mother struggling with a crack addiction, plus all the.
Additionally, the sound design when Chiron is hiding in an abandoned apartment and the boys are banging on the walls and doors makes you feel like you are right there in the scene with him. These ideals of masculinity are enforced by parents, friends, and the community surrounding Black kids and teenagers Gilmer and Wilchins, 4.
Hibbert, is already viewed as different and feminine which causes him to face discrimination. Chiron grew up in a homophobic, hypermasculine environment with many power differences that were repeatedly exploited, at home and at school, and that impacts him for the rest of his life as I will explore later.
Shot-reverse shots are used to alternate between them looking at each other to immerse you in the scene.