At the end of the film, the last shot is Chiron standing in front of the Atlantic in the moonlight. As Juan walks over to say hello to the young men, the camera slithers behind him. The camera slowly goes toward Chiron until he turns his head to look behind him. We will occasionally send you account related emails. Sassens work possesses a wonderful blend of color and the saturation of natural textures and hues of skin that Moonlight employs as well, to define a new idiom of beauty for black bodies in cinema. We walk through the film's structure, cinematography, sound and symbolism to show you what you might have missed about this immersive. When we tell stories about characters in this context, the go-to style is often a bleak realism. Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins' Movie Moonlight Essay. While its a tender coming-of-age film, it never shies away from the harsh world of gangs and drug use that it is set in. The result is an immersive sequence that allows the camera to capture each splash and stroke of the water, which was achieved by filming partly underwater. How long-angle is something? The Sexual Identity and Overall Well Being of Chiron in Moonlight, a Although all are heavily influenced by the beliefs [], We provide you with original essay samples, perfect formatting and styling. Later in the film when Juan teaches Chiron how to swim, the camera is level to the water so that the audience feels like they are swimming with the characters. It allows us to make choices later on in the film, that if we dont set up our language that way at the beginning, could possibly feel like not as organic.. Dollars from the household of a dealer may end up in Chirons pocket and later in the hands of Chirons mother, who doubtless will return them to a dealer. Well known for its groundbreaking lighting of black actors, Moonlight embraces the tension of the location in what Jenkins calls "a beautiful nightmare" (Jenkins). The choice to portray what looks like a stereotypical drug deal, and then swiftly move towards the vulnerability of Little/Chiron, as he is bullied serves to subvert audiences expectations and sets the right tone. Plus, for your first 10 articles, youll be compensated by HQ at $10/response. Its sort of funny that this moment is happening at a time when those two things could not be further apart from one another., Moonlight moves away from the coldness on anything impersonal and uses a well-worn authenticity along with a small handful of the films recognized by the Academy this year. Cinematographer James Laxton and director Barry Jenkins on location in Miami. There is a greater meaning to all the seemingly unimportant saturation of colors and camera angles. Its merely a feature of the landscape, where air is humid, birds chirp, people disappear, and small bills flow in a circle. Ad Choices. As the second part ends and the third begins, a grown-up, , dunks himself in an ice bath yet again, as if to erase all traces of his past scared self through this ritual and be reborn again as the powerful drug lord that he has grown into. Moonlight Film Analysis - 793 Words | Bartleby Chiron's eyes say so much that this young man has not been taught how to express. How you are depicting someone. The camera is sped up and closing in on Chiron and his friend, trapping them even further. var aax_size='300x600';var aax_pubname='flickside08-21';var aax_src='302'; Subscribe to stay informed about noteworthy films. Moonlight Cinematography: Bold Color, Rich Skin Tone, High Contrast As a writer for Odyssey, youll have the opportunity to share your voice with our community of readers from all over the world. Through three acts, the film Moonlight (2016) explores three periods of the life of the lonely and sensitive Chiron, who faces the difficult intersectionality of growing up poor, black and gay in late 1980s Miami. Those two things are at complete odds with one another. But the next cut is to a child running through tall grass, and handheld, somewhat frenetic camera movement. Its what our job is: To depict a judgment. There is an inherent tension, then, between his role and the effect he is hoping to elicit. Jenkins has said that, the film being a fever dreamand that the audience is part of the dream. Jenkins and Laxton uses the way characters are lit and how neighborhoods are shot to challenge many stereotypes about black communities. Back at school, after Kevin was forced to beat up Chiron by his bullies, Chiron sits in an office and tunes the principals voice out. We were at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, sitting at a table in an otherwise empty lounge. But my memory of growing up in Miami is this moist, beautiful black skin. Students who find writing to be a difficult task. Moonlight Film Analysis. Both Jenkins and Linklater [], The controversy surrounding Brett Easton Ellis's American Psycho and Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange relates primarily to the central themes that are explored in both books. When he washes off his bloodied face he is simultaneously washing away the old Chiron, thereby ushering the audience into the third chapter in which we see a parallel to the bathroom scene, only now with Black. Let us write you an essay from scratch, Order a custom essay from our writers and get it on time, Structural Analysis Of The Movie Moonlight Essay, Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins Movie Moonlight Essay, The Main Message Of The Film Moonlight Essay, Comparing Barry Jenkins And Richard Linklater's Works Essay, A Comparison Between the American Psycho and a Clockwork Orange Essay, A Study of the Character Alex in a Clockwork Orange Essay, The Role of Music in Bringing Out the Theme in a Clockwork Orange Essay, Free Will vs Morality in a Clockwork Orange Essay, The theme of morality and ethics in A Clockwork Orange Essay. Want to spend your summer being creative and making some money on the side? Rather than employing a realist, documentary style, Moonlight is filled with elements of visual design such as contrast, color, camera angles, lighting, and slow-motion that immerses the audience in a dreamlike . Every shot is rife with emotional heft and a definitive artistic composition. Which for us meant anamorphic lenses that express this heightened sense of existence that I think audience members sometimes associate with bigger tent pole films, but were presenting this sort of nuanced subtle story but with that same heightened value.. Bold, saturated colors and soft lighting that express the emotional beats of the film lend a touch of dream-like surrealism to the story. Protagonist Alexs fondness for classical music imbues his character with interesting dimensions, and resonates well [], Following the publication of his most notable work, A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess commented on the function of literature in a mutable society. The color blue and water are the most prominent throughout. . Above: Roys work from his book from Out Of The Blue. The film is driven by the internal conflicts of the characters, instead of a plot. You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers. This time, we hear her say, "Don't look at me!" We cut to Chiron, now a full-grown man, waking up from this, a bad dream. 2022 Mar 11 [cited 2023 May 1]. Let's fix your grades together! Moonlight Cinematography James Laxton Featured on LensCulture The Photographic Inspirations Behind Moonlight, 2016's Best Picture Moonlight Cinematography A conversation with Moonlight's cinematographer reveals the surprising but formative influence that still photography had on this Oscar-winning film. focus on telling a well-realized story is evident in its camera movements as well. When looking at the cinematography section at the Oscars, Laxton says, Its amazing to be on that list. Something Barry does so well is put his team in settings where so much honesty and beauty can be found, and its our job as cinematographers, actors, designers, and editors to find it., This moment has so much weight in it. Sensitive topics such as race and sexuality, staged against the backdrop of the hood are automatically assumed to follow the convention of realism. How the light looks on someones face. Moonlight Explained: Symbols, Camera & More - The Good Men Project Chiron is changed forever in the preceding scene. Jenkins and cinematographer James Laxton focused on drawing the audience into the inner lives of the characters and creating a consistent visual language to tell a story of fractured identity. Sensitive topics such as race and sexuality, staged against the backdrop of the hood are automatically assumed to follow the convention of realism. When Juan breaks down the boards to the house, lights fill the room. Plot is not so much the concern as an intensive character study is. Laxton pushes the camera closer and closer towards the characters so as to create moments of intentional bonding between them and the audience. As Chiron finds a hiding place, the bullies insults become louder and louder. This is done substantively, with the emotional terrain of the characters, and its done visually, with angles and light. Immediately after the first scene, the camera moves to Chiron being chased by his bullies. The film, which was critically acclaimed for its fresh take on race, African-American queer sexuality, and nuanced understandings of masculinity was told through bold colors and realism in the mode of cinematography. The frame is set up in such a way that the viewer only experiences the calm waters of the Atlantic and the rush of the waves as. The composition of this notable scene juxtaposes the ingrained idea of Juan being a gang affiliated drug dealer as he takes on the role of father of the protagonist. When a character is the only one in an expanded frame, it highlights how alone they are. The same weakness is shown to immobilize Chiron, however, his ability to remain static throughout the situation represents some degree of mental toughness that was unseen before this scene. The choice to portray what looks like a stereotypical drug deal, and then swiftly move towards the vulnerability of. Image Source: lensculture.com ( Earlie Hudnall, Jr., Viviane Sassen, courtesy of PDNB Gallery). But a community can also be a cage. Moonlight was filmed in Liberty City, Miami, where the neighborhood houses are pastel-colored and trees a tropical green. When Kevin notices Chiron sitting at the bar the shot cuts to a close-up of Kevin looking directly looking into the lens. Natural light is also used during the diner scene. Moonlight (Film) Summary and Analysis of "Introduction - GradeSaver Chirons mother being highlighted in neon pink lights her femininity despite her sour expression. Laxton also shot Jenkinss previous film, Medicine for Melancholy. Moonlight Sequence Analysis: Cinematography The sequence that sticks out to me in the movie Moonlight is when Juan teaches Chiron how to swim. The reason for using the flicker box was here applied to a fluorescent light, instead of its usual occupation which produces lighting effects. Maybe subconsciously we chose it for Moonlight in an effort to depict this community in a brand new light., These choices may be subtle, but their cumulative effect is why theNew York Times film critic A. O. Scott described Moonlight as a poem written in light. In this poem, there is little place for commentary. We didnt talk about Moonlight of course, but I think on some level those conversations about what it is to be a filmmaker, who our voices are as filmmakers. Blue serves as a source of solace and peace for. Moonlight doesn't just look and sound great. Throughout Moonlight Chirons character maintains a sense of childlike behavior that carries into his adulthood. The green hues and flicker of the florescent lighting enhance the slow motion and camera movement to give us the feeling of a heart broken with violence. sexual intimacy and the resulting violence, as well as. At the end of the second part. The last sequence particularly stands out; upon breaking down in Kevins arms, Chiron sees himself as Little, standing in front of the sea and looking right back at the viewer, awash in moonlight and hinting at self-acceptance. And all those things, oddly enough, I think what they do in a way is they disarm me. We balance between sensuality and violence, and in this moment, violence triumphs. The light inside the building came from the lamps and it gave a natural and realistic feel to the diner. The bright colors used are different than the usual dark and harsh colors American indie movies that tackle social issues usually have. Analysis of Cinematography in Barry Jenkins' Movie Moonlight This tint was not done for pure aesthetic necessarily, but to speak to the emotional state that Chiron was experiencing. To communicate this in a visual manner, the camera frames the subjects such that they fill up the majority of the screen, thus drawing us into their emotional landscapes. The camera stops and Chiron looks to the audience as if beckoning to join him. Netflix can claim responsibility for six wins best international feature, cinematography, original score and production design for its German-language film All Quiet on the Western Front; best . The scene is about a dealer interacting with his guy on the corner, right? Color is one of the first things I notice about the sequence. Still from In The Mood For Love by Wong Kar-wai. There are these sort of lonely frames that exist, even when hes a grown man. Juan, a confident drug dealer, emerges from the car and crosses the street to greet Terrence. In the next scene, the child, Little (Chirons nickname when he is young), played by Alex Hibbert, interacts with the dealer we have already met, Juan, in a way I will characterize only as unexpected. The film is separated into three chapters, Little as his youth, Chiron as his adolescence, and Black as his early adult life. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of [.] It is a lens that has been used on many beloved movies and cinematographer James Laxton has said that Its for grand stories and big-scope thoughts. Barry Jenkins, the screenwriter and director behind the beautiful new film Moonlight, grew up in Liberty City, the Miami neighborhood where the story is set. Its most prominent themes are love, stereotypes and identity. Moonlight'sfocus on telling a well-realized story is evident in its camera movements as well. The spinning has a dizzying effect, which intends to put our audience in a state of tension, uncertain as to how the scene will play out. The effect is such that we are not watching them swimming; instead, we are right there next to them. The Photographic Inspirations Behind Moonlight, 2016's Best Picture The waves distort the lens to accentuate the feeling of being present at such an intimate moment. Those things were calibrated for white skin. For one, this scene accomplishes this visual confirmation of the weakness that Kevin holds due to his closeted insecurities. Moonlight Movie Discussion Questions | Study.com Movie Analysis Essay on Moonlight - proessays.net Lets consider the sequence where Juan teaches Little to swim. first introduction and their subsequent meeting are framed in the vivid blue of his car, and his apartment. Moonlight gives us three Acts of Chiron's journey: Little, Chiron, and Black. Laxton was also heavily inspired by photography. My morning routine is I make a cup of coffee and Ill just like scroll through Tumblr images for the first 20 minutes of my day, says Laxton. A prominent scene depicts this where the protagonist is taught how to swim in the ocean by his father figure Juan. The angle of the shot exaggerates Chirons gaze and makes it look more heartbroken than if it was an eye-level shot. The immersion in water is reminiscent of a baptism, and this motif is repeated throughout the film. Moonlight Film Review and Analysis | by Hunter Albert | Medium According to Laxton, this was an idea that took shape in pre-production. We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. It just wakes my mind up., Photographers like Henry Roy inspired Laxton. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. And they allow my mind to sort of relax and just let a story be presented to me., This idea of being really personal and unique with the way in which you tell your story. This visual rebirth consolidates his transformation from a scared and vulnerable teenager to an angry and resolute youth, who now performs hegemonic, violent masculinity in order to reclaim some semblance of power. Moonlight (2016) - Difference, Power, and Discrimination in Film and Read More22 Must Watch Films For Great Cinematography21 Iconic Shots Of The 21st CenturyCinematography Vs Videography: Whats The Difference? During one of the film's many memorable dialogue exchanges (written by . (The teenage Chiron is played by Ashton Sanders in the second act, the adult Chiron by Trevante Rhodes in the third.) No words are spoken and the two characters are just staring at one another. Moonlight - Narrative First Moonlight is such a beautiful experience because of the way Director Jenkins uses color, camera angles, and lighting to connect the audience to the characters. Moonlight is a masterclass in expressive camera and sound. The theme, being who we truly are and what our environment expects us to be, is the protagonists main conflict. Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney, who wrote the play on which the movie is based, both grew up there in the same part of Liberty City, Miami. In both of these films, space and framing of the characters provide a coherent visual guide to the plots impact. And thats still true today.. Realism was avoided, with an understanding that when a setting is visually pathologized, so too are the human beings in it. This also brings the film to a symbolic full circle, ending with the nascent stages of. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. While the story is told in three distinct parts that correspond to different parts of Chirons identity as Little/Chiron/Black, these are united by the expressionistic use of color and certain motifs. (Moonlights editors, Joi McMillon and Nat Sanders, were schoolmates, as was one of the its producers, Adele Romanski, to whom Laxton is now married.) Moonlight was directed by . Jenkins and Laxton were aware of the fact that they were dealing with stories that had previously been depicted, and sought to destabilize the tropes associated with several elements of the narrative. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Above: D.N.A., 2007. It becomes clear that Terrence is an employee of Juan's who deals . Weve always placed powder on skin to dull the light. This scene utilized Miamis natural lighting (that would be later touched in editing) which is said to do wonderful things to ones skin and kinder due to the humidity and moisture in the air. Manage Settings The top five things on your summer bucket list this year. Judgment is something I think Im very concerned with in filmmaking, Laxton said. This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before, Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts. According to Laxton, We wanted to make sure our black-skinned actors would look natural and interesting skin tone. Moonlight doesn't just look and sound great. Here, it symbolizes the community and tight connection between the boss, employee, and customer. This visual rebirth consolidates his transformation from a scared and vulnerable teenager to an angry and resolute youth, who now performs hegemonic, violent masculinity in order to reclaim some semblance of power. Bold, saturated colors and soft lighting that express the emotional beats of the film lend a touch of dream-like surrealism to the story. The scene in which Chiron comes face to face with his largest enemy (himself) through a clean glass mirror serves as an interesting shot for cinematographers and audiences. The scene is about a dealer interacting with his guy on the corner, right? Need some creative inspiration? Within its ambition to portray a higher, complicated understanding of black queerness and violence upon black bodies, it also acknowledges the ties of hegemonic masculinity in African American communities. Remember: This is just a sample from a fellow student. When Kevin and Chiron wrestle, the camera becomes shaky and cuts to shots of their arms and legs. The film opens with a very stylized, swirling shot of a drug dealer, Juan, played by the magnificent Mahershala Ali. But the drug economy in which the characters live does not define them as human beings. In contrast from other movies about poverty that mostly is accompanied by jarring noises and severity, Moonlights soundtrack consists of beautiful melodies that are created with a number of violins, cellos, violas, and basses that are constantly being filtered through Chirons perspective. At the end of the second part, Chiron has been beaten up and bloodied by his bullies. Near the end of the film, Chiron is standing in a doorway but the camera has skewed the perspective by not standing directly in front of the doorway, making Chiron look small and confined. Water is used as a symbol of transformation and reborn, it precedes every important choice the protagonist makes. Moonlight follows Chiron, an African American living in a rough neighborhood of Miami. Moonlight exquisitely uses light and color to enhance the immersion of the audience into Chiron's thoughts and feelings. 2023 gradesfixer.com. Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Since one of the concepts of our visual language had to do with being immersive, it was a must to put the camera in the water, within the tides and waves of the ocean, to experience the swimming lesson as the characters do. I think that younger audiences are more accepting of this than older audiences. To sign up, email glorie@theodysseyonline.com. Similarly, the gaze of the film is such that the person behind the lens does not lend any moral judgement to the kind of life the characters find themselves in. above the water. From a distance, this seems like a very specific story. This circular shot encapsulates the Chirons teenage bully Tell as he initiates a game of knockout as he directs Kevin to punch Chiron. Moonlight | Movie, Plot, Cast, Awards, & Facts | Britannica Moonlight is shot in anamorphic format, which made it when the characters stare into the camera that much more dramatic. Laxton had to maneuver a 200-pound camera in an underwater housing for the scene. Little is taught how to swim by his new father-figure, he is compelled to float on the water, Let go, dont fight the water, Juan says as he cradles his head through this revelatory moment. Imagine an animal circling its preythis is exactly what inspired the opening moments of the knockout scene. The life of Chiron is delicately revealed by cinematographer James Laxton who portrays him within a distinct pallet of blown out color photographs that set his life in a faded part of Miami where screenwriter and director Barry Jenkins was raised. The non-linear storytelling is enhanced by the visual choices of the film. Moonlight, American dramatic film, released in 2016, that unexpectedly won the Academy Award for best picture. Moonlight - 1319 Words | Internet Public Library So was McCraney, 36. Similar themes are present in both films, but Jenkinss sophomore film shows how much the filmmaker has improved. In Moonlight, it's the process of keeping the audience aware of the maker's hand and of the actors playing. The movie begins with Chiron as a neglected 9-year-old where he is exposed to. Its sort of the delicate balance of providing images that allow an audience to feel like theyre watching a real experience. Ad Choices. How 'Moonlight' Uses Cinematography to Wreck Us Emotionally Jenkins used his own experience, growing up with mother struggling with addiction, to write the screenplay. That being said, I dont think the movies untrue. So did Tarell Alvin McCraney, who wrote the play on which the movie is based, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. While I think audiences are actually chomping at the bit for really personal unique visions of things. It's an intentional move away from the aloof style and perfection of most big budget. Laxton and Jenkins drew from varied sources to create a singular cinematic language for Moonlight. Right afterwards, as. He borrowed elements from the work of photographers Earlie Hudnall Jr and Viviane Sassen. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of [], What I believe the film Moonlight is attempting to communicate to us watching is not simply the acknowledgment of homosexuality inside African American neighborhoods, yet additionally grasping young men who exist outside of that [], The semi-autobiographical bildungsroman films Moonlight and Boyhood, directed by Barry Jenkins and Richard Linklater, explore comparable themes through the use of cinematic and narrative techniques. Thats an idea that kind of came out of our process on the set. Maybe subconsciously we chose it for Moonlight in an effort to depict this community in a brand new light.. Its my job to depict judgment, yet Im ultimately searching for a way to get the audience to relinquish that judgment and to just be watchful., We asked Laxton to describe his approach to shooting four of Moonlights most striking scenes, moments in the film when color and camerawork are particularly integral to the story and evocative of the place and people. Look no further! Moonlight (Film) Summary and Analysis of "Black" (Part One) Summary At the start of this chapter, we see the same image of Paula yelling at Little in the pink light of her room.
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