Moonlight
2016
*****
Director: Barry Jenkins
Cast: Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Alex Hibbert, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Jaden Piner, Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Patrick Decile
A terrific coming-of-age story of Chiron, a withdrawn and bullied black gay boy who struggles with his own sense of self growing up in a tough Miami neighbourhood. Chiron's story is told in three parts (childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood) and he is played by three different actors. Richard Linklater's Boyhood (2014) is an obvious recent comparison, but Barry Jenkins' second feature is a different beast and a wonderfully assured film in its own right. The story is gripping, the performances are great, the visuals are stunning, and the soundtrack is subtle but powerful. An Academy Award winner for best picture, best adapted screenplay (from Tarell Alvin McCraney's play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue), and best supporting actor (Mahershala Ali).
