A film that startles you: Moonlight

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2016-10-30-1477863644-6514640-moonlight
Moonlight is the story of a young gay black man's struggle. For his identity. For peace.
Did I just startle you ?
Did it make you uncomfortable  ?
Yes, it is a controversial subject but one that, in this film, has given us one of the best films of this decade.
In a world where we're so divided on race and sexuality, Moonlight is an aptly timed social commentary and though it's about an African American, it could easily have been about you and me.
It's a special film. Probably the best of the year along with La La Land.
Moonlight is a visual treat. James Laxton has somehow managed to bring searing compassion on the screen in the form of a beautiful poem. It was particularly hard given the stereotypes attached with the African American community.
There are three stages in the film and each stage has a wonderful actor playing the protagonist. The process does not flounder anywhere during the transition. The quest of Chiron continues seamlessly to find his identity and his efforts to hide himself behind a charade. A mask he wears so that the world doesn't see how the real him.
And though brief, but essential appearances of Mahershala Ali and Naomi Harris are instrumental in guiding the life of Chiron and making him the person he is in the last phase of story. Naomi Harris has given the performance of her life. As the addict and abusive mother she is terrifyingly real and Ali who is even for a briefer period shapes Chiron life the most. He is a drug dealer who shares an emotional connection to Chiron after finding him hiding in a deserted hole. His approach towards Chiron is unusually sensitive given his profession but this is the relationship that for once makes him hang his head in shame for what he does in a beautifully crafted scene.
And the person who orchestrated the show, Barry Jenkins has risen above the shackles of the directors of his race. He has told a story that doesn't belong to any race which I feel unfortunately is the case most of the time whenever any African American director helms a film. It is understandable that there is anger and frustration but I don't think any African American director has ever made a more universal film than this.
Moonlight is a sensitive and emotional story of a quiet, meek and lost young man whose journey doesn't end with the film. It continues and extends to our lives with the last scene emanating hope.
A hope that we'll learn to accept the people as they are.

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