Moonlight April 10, 2017 at the DUC Theater

Monday night I had the privilege of seeing the production of the film Moonlight, which portrays a gay, black man growing up in Florida. As I walked into the theater I saw almost every seat was full. I was surprised to see so many people and I was curious if they were all there to see a great movie or if they were there for a class grade. I wasn't entirely sure what the movie was about other than the hardships of growing up in a black community while facing his own demons of accepting the fact he is gay. Watching the film help me see how the people around you and in your life can impact your life greatly and impact your own actions and path in life.

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The film began with Chiron as a young boy. I noticed the camera quality was astounding and the characters portrayed their lives very realistically. Chiron was very quiet, almost too quiet as a young black boy. We tend to think of black people with having an attitude and confidence, but Chiron seemed to be timid yet held his ground. He was very lost as to who he was as an individual and in the film he actually was lost, away from home. Chiron later asked what a faggot was, and the adults became uneasy because that it a touchy subject to discuss. I thought they described it well and taught him right from wrong, and that being gay is not wrong. Theresa and the man were like a second family for Chiron and they gave him a place where he could feel accepted and comforted, compared to his corrupt home with his mother.

As Chiron grew up he was still weak and picked on by kids at school. I wasn't sure if the teenage boy playing Chiron would fit his role at first, but after a few lines of dialogue, I could see the actor portrayed Chiron as if he were the same exact actor who played Chiron as a young boy. He was still quiet, but seemed to be a little more intelligent and know how to sneak around and away from the oppression he faced from his classmates and mother. When the boys at school beat him up, he broke down because he couldn't handle being pushed around anymore. He took all of his anger and frustration out on the main bully by hitting him with a chair. This caused him to be arrested and it changed it life.

Chiron knew he didn't ever want to be picked on again, so he worked out and gained lots of muscle and money to defend himself. He kind of became a "bad boy" and a gangster, but he felt he had to in order to fight for himself and to survive his own oppression. Later when he went back home to his mother and his friend Kevin, he realized that he didn't have to wear a mask anymore and that he could finally be himself. It was a moment of relief and he could finally create a good life for himself. He talked with Kevin all night long and realized he was happy right there with Kevin. This film beautifully portrayed the battle within and the battle with those around you while being gay and also in the black community. I would encourage everyone to watch Moonlight and find their own insight within the film.