Moonlight Film Trip
Discussion points:
1. Chiron is a character
of few words. Why is this?
The reason why Chiron is a character of few words is because he lacks self-confidence and there are many factors which contribute to his lack of confidence; one of them being the constant verbal abuse he gets from his drug-addicted who always have random men around their apartment and spends the little money they have on drugs, leaving Chiron to fend for himself. This must make Chiron feel like he doesn't have a say in his relationship with his mum, since clearly doesn't care for him as much a mother should care for their son. Another factor that may knock his confidence is not having an initial strong male figure in his life (although he meets Juan); this is because his father was never in the picture which indicates he must have left at a young age, which is a stereotypical situation within African culture. One other contributing factor is the verbal and physical abuse he gets from his classmates at school; he is made to feel scared and inferior to everyone due to his sexuality, whereby he gets no support from his mother. The lack of support is communicated to the audience when he says to Juan, "are you going to tell him why the other kids beat him up at school". Therefore, these are some of the reasons why Chiron does not tend to say much, because it is hard for him to communicate his feelings across.
The reason why Chiron is a character of few words is because he lacks self-confidence and there are many factors which contribute to his lack of confidence; one of them being the constant verbal abuse he gets from his drug-addicted who always have random men around their apartment and spends the little money they have on drugs, leaving Chiron to fend for himself. This must make Chiron feel like he doesn't have a say in his relationship with his mum, since clearly doesn't care for him as much a mother should care for their son. Another factor that may knock his confidence is not having an initial strong male figure in his life (although he meets Juan); this is because his father was never in the picture which indicates he must have left at a young age, which is a stereotypical situation within African culture. One other contributing factor is the verbal and physical abuse he gets from his classmates at school; he is made to feel scared and inferior to everyone due to his sexuality, whereby he gets no support from his mother. The lack of support is communicated to the audience when he says to Juan, "are you going to tell him why the other kids beat him up at school". Therefore, these are some of the reasons why Chiron does not tend to say much, because it is hard for him to communicate his feelings across.
2. How do the three
actors use body language to communicate Chiron’s emotions to the audience?
The three characters refer to the three stages of Chiron's life that were presented to the audience; the three stages being Chiron as a child, as a teenager and as an adult. The first character (Chiron as a young boy), was very skinny which further adds to the lack of support he gets from his mother because she spends all of her money on drugs and not food. He always kept his head down when people approached him, he ran away from bullies and his posture composed of his shoulders being shrivelled; this connotes to the audience that he is shy and scared, which also shows his vulnerability. In the second stage of his life (Chiron as a teenager), his character was still skinny, kept his head down and still reluctant to talk to people. However, when he was bullied and physically abused by other students, he fought back instead of running away as the young Chiron would have done. The most drastic change to Chiron's character is when he is presented as an adult; he had huge muscles, stern look on his face and he didn't walk around with his head facing the ground. This shows the audience that he was no longer scared and wanted to be able to defend himself. On the other hand, it could also show that audience that he is trying to hide his sexuality as he was bullied for wearing skinny clothes when he was younger.
The three characters refer to the three stages of Chiron's life that were presented to the audience; the three stages being Chiron as a child, as a teenager and as an adult. The first character (Chiron as a young boy), was very skinny which further adds to the lack of support he gets from his mother because she spends all of her money on drugs and not food. He always kept his head down when people approached him, he ran away from bullies and his posture composed of his shoulders being shrivelled; this connotes to the audience that he is shy and scared, which also shows his vulnerability. In the second stage of his life (Chiron as a teenager), his character was still skinny, kept his head down and still reluctant to talk to people. However, when he was bullied and physically abused by other students, he fought back instead of running away as the young Chiron would have done. The most drastic change to Chiron's character is when he is presented as an adult; he had huge muscles, stern look on his face and he didn't walk around with his head facing the ground. This shows the audience that he was no longer scared and wanted to be able to defend himself. On the other hand, it could also show that audience that he is trying to hide his sexuality as he was bullied for wearing skinny clothes when he was younger.
3. Why is he reluctant
to make eye contact with people?
The reason why Chiron is reluctant to make eye contact with people is because he lacks self-confidence due to the neglect from his mum and everyone at school. He is constantly being put down, which of course makes him feel depressed, and he doesn't want people to see him like that as they may increase the intensity of the bullying. Chiron doesn't want people to consider the pain in his eyes.
The reason why Chiron is reluctant to make eye contact with people is because he lacks self-confidence due to the neglect from his mum and everyone at school. He is constantly being put down, which of course makes him feel depressed, and he doesn't want people to see him like that as they may increase the intensity of the bullying. Chiron doesn't want people to consider the pain in his eyes.
4. 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 did and didn't surprise me both at the same time. The reason why it didn't surprise me is because I know that anywhere you go in the world, there are going to be some run down, deprived areas. However, whilst reading the blurb for the film, I expected the movie to be set in Central Miami where there are bright lights and people go clubbing. This is because the blurb mentioned drug dealing, which I would have associated with clubs and people looking to buy drugs for a good night out. The use of the saturated colour further adds to the run-down area and poverty of the area.
The Miami setting did and didn't surprise me both at the same time. The reason why it didn't surprise me is because I know that anywhere you go in the world, there are going to be some run down, deprived areas. However, whilst reading the blurb for the film, I expected the movie to be set in Central Miami where there are bright lights and people go clubbing. This is because the blurb mentioned drug dealing, which I would have associated with clubs and people looking to buy drugs for a good night out. The use of the saturated colour further adds to the run-down area and poverty of the area.
5. 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 very significant because he was the 'father' figure in Chiron's life when his birth father wasn't present and his mother was on drugs. At the beginning of the film, Juan followed him to the building that he ran into to hide from the bullies; since then, he looked after him, alongside Theresa and gave him food to eat and a place to stay if he was ever in need of one. The part of the film when the audience really get to see the father figure that Juan is, is when he is teaching Chiron how to swim and ensures him that he won’t let him go. Although he is only present in the first chapter of the film, you can see that Juan had a really big impact on Chiron's life, especially as an adult; he dresses similarly, drives a similar car with the same crown statue on his dashboard and in some scenes, we see him wearing a durag just as Juan did. We also learn that he is a drug dealer just as Juan was, which is how Juan's influence is felt over the entire film.
Juan is very significant because he was the 'father' figure in Chiron's life when his birth father wasn't present and his mother was on drugs. At the beginning of the film, Juan followed him to the building that he ran into to hide from the bullies; since then, he looked after him, alongside Theresa and gave him food to eat and a place to stay if he was ever in need of one. The part of the film when the audience really get to see the father figure that Juan is, is when he is teaching Chiron how to swim and ensures him that he won’t let him go. Although he is only present in the first chapter of the film, you can see that Juan had a really big impact on Chiron's life, especially as an adult; he dresses similarly, drives a similar car with the same crown statue on his dashboard and in some scenes, we see him wearing a durag just as Juan did. We also learn that he is a drug dealer just as Juan was, which is how Juan's influence is felt over the entire film.
6. 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?
I think the film makers used the beach as the main vocal point to emphasise the most important events in his life; one being the memory of Juan teaching him how to swim. Another defining event in his life is when he was at the beach with Kevin, which is when he confirmed his confusion regarding his sexuality. One other event is when he meets Kevin in adulthood after so long, where the camera focuses on the beach as Chiron reminisces. The location of the beach could symbolise freedom; the fresh air, the water and the soft touch of the sand could be an escape from his struggles. Another reason why the beach could be significant is because it holds sentimental value for him; this is because some of the most defining moments in his life were at the beach or near the ocean.
I think the film makers used the beach as the main vocal point to emphasise the most important events in his life; one being the memory of Juan teaching him how to swim. Another defining event in his life is when he was at the beach with Kevin, which is when he confirmed his confusion regarding his sexuality. One other event is when he meets Kevin in adulthood after so long, where the camera focuses on the beach as Chiron reminisces. The location of the beach could symbolise freedom; the fresh air, the water and the soft touch of the sand could be an escape from his struggles. Another reason why the beach could be significant is because it holds sentimental value for him; this is because some of the most defining moments in his life were at the beach or near the ocean.
7. Did anything about
Chiron in the final chapter surprise you?
The main factor that surprised me the most in the final chapter in terms of Chiron's character, is his drastic change of appearance; he went from being a shy, feeble young boy to a well-built man. However, we as the audience could tell that the 'new and improved' Chiron was only a front as when Kevin called, he went back to being the young boy he was, not talking and very timid. It also surprised me that he kept in contact with his mother, even after the constant neglect and verbal abuse.
The main factor that surprised me the most in the final chapter in terms of Chiron's character, is his drastic change of appearance; he went from being a shy, feeble young boy to a well-built man. However, we as the audience could tell that the 'new and improved' Chiron was only a front as when Kevin called, he went back to being the young boy he was, not talking and very timid. It also surprised me that he kept in contact with his mother, even after the constant neglect and verbal abuse.
8. To what extent do you
think he is being true to “himself” before and after his reunion with Kevin?
Before his reunion with Kevin, I don't think Chiron was being true to himself. This is because he said he hadn't been "touched by anyone else" after Kevin, which shows that he wasn't being open and truthful about his sexuality. However, after he reunited with Kevin, we see him start to open up and speak about his life after the years of being bullied. The part of the film where Chiron was truthful to himself is the closing scene where he and Kevin shared an intimate scene.
Before his reunion with Kevin, I don't think Chiron was being true to himself. This is because he said he hadn't been "touched by anyone else" after Kevin, which shows that he wasn't being open and truthful about his sexuality. However, after he reunited with Kevin, we see him start to open up and speak about his life after the years of being bullied. The part of the film where Chiron was truthful to himself is the closing scene where he and Kevin shared an intimate scene.
9. What did you make of
his various nicknames?
The nicknames that were given to Chiron are words that were used to define his character.
The nicknames that were given to Chiron are words that were used to define his character.
Write about it:
Bring your ideas together in a review. 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.
The film is about a character who is presented through three defining chapter in his life; a young boy, a teenager and an adult. As the narrative progresses, we grow with the character as he struggles with his drug-addict mum, being bullied at school, and most importantly his sexuality.
The part of the film that I really enjoyed is the way in which the producers presented a microscopic fraction of the African-American population in a rundown area, showing the lives of young black people when put in a situation like Chiron's. I also enjoyed how the narrative progressed, using three different characters to present the different stages in Chiron's life; from this, the audience can grow and relate to each of the characters. On the other hand, I disliked how the narrative ended to abruptly with the intimate scene of himself and Kevin; this lead to many different enigma codes which I would have liked to see within the narrative.
Bring your ideas together in a review. 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.
The film is about a character who is presented through three defining chapter in his life; a young boy, a teenager and an adult. As the narrative progresses, we grow with the character as he struggles with his drug-addict mum, being bullied at school, and most importantly his sexuality.
The part of the film that I really enjoyed is the way in which the producers presented a microscopic fraction of the African-American population in a rundown area, showing the lives of young black people when put in a situation like Chiron's. I also enjoyed how the narrative progressed, using three different characters to present the different stages in Chiron's life; from this, the audience can grow and relate to each of the characters. On the other hand, I disliked how the narrative ended to abruptly with the intimate scene of himself and Kevin; this lead to many different enigma codes which I would have liked to see within the narrative.
Rating - ★★★★
Comments
Post a Comment