34/101
Moonlight (2016)
- Written and directed by Barry Jenkins
- Based on the semi-autobiographical play 'In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue' by Tarell Alvin McCraney
*SPOILER FREE
Who are you? What are you? What is your identity? Wait... What is an identity and who or what decides that? This is just about why the art form of cinema exists. And this is about what any art form does best, looks you in the eye and says...
Moonlight is a coming-of-age drama exploring three stages of the life of the main character, his three names, and his three personas as he begins to discover new sides to his identity and sexuality, and struggles with his community as they won't understand or accept him.
This is a timeless story of self-discovery, human connection and human longing. A story of a lifetime, of those who love us and fulfill our needs, of what makes us us, this is the story of the child, the lover, the free inside of us.
Barry Jenkins masterfully and eloquently writes and directs, possibly, the finest moment of 21st century cinema.
Fascinating camera work and captivating sound design that never lets go of you, not for a moment, it knows when to include you in the story that you no longer watching it, you're part of it, and it knows when to take you out of your comfort zone and manipulate all of your senses to make you feel just as uncomfortable and insecure as you the character in that scene. The editing, the Mise-en-scène, and the symbolism. This is an intimate, transcendent cinematic experience to cherished.
Mahershala Ali, alongside Naomi Harris as the drug addict mom and the three actors who play our main character, gives an astounding performance that's too good to be true.
Nicholas Britell composes an unconventional, breathtaking original score that sways with the narrative to make a harmonic dance of sight and sound.
This is my favorite feature film from my favorite independent film production company, A24, that's been producing quality cinema for the past 10 years.
Moonlight is the main reason why cinema as an art form exists. And Moonlight is what cinema as an art form does best, looks you in the eye and says...
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Available to watch on Netflix, HBO Max, and on Amazon Prime Video
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First published on LinkedIn as part of #hamzeh101.