Moonlight is a 2016 American drama film directed by Barry Jenkins. The movie which can be categorized as a coming-of-age drama film, chronicles the life of the main character, Chiron, growing up in Miami. The movie focuses on his journey to manhood, the difficulty he faces as well as the support and kindness of the community that helps raise him. This essay seeks to examine how sexuality has been portrayed in the film, Moonlight.
In the movie, the main character is Kevin. He is seen as a bisexual. Kevin sexual fluidity is evident in the dialogue throughout the movie. Kevin is depicted as one with a huge sex drive. In another scene, he kisses Chiron and gives him a hand-job and as they walk around they hold hands. Sexual affection can also be seen when he tells Kelvin that he is the only man he has ever touched and had not had sexual experience since.
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The community, as well as family in the film, have intersected with sexuality in the movie. Chiron’s mother is a drug addict and has neglected him. Chiron does not receive affection and has a severed relationship with her. Chiron understands that in the midst of his sexuality crisis his mother cannot provide security for him because she did not offer her before. The community arises in the form of drug dealer Juan who offers him security. Juan is the person Chiron first admitted his sexuality to. Juan is presented as a father figure to Chiron and a beacon of manhood.
Moonlight challenged the stereotype of the gay community as the main character contains traditional masculinity. Chiron does not wear fancy clothes but is always in a t-shirt and sleeveless sweater. Chiron is tough and muscular while being attracted to a male. In contrast to movies and other media outlets that depict gay community as having a smooth upbringing, Chiron is brought up in a tough and poor setting. The movie portrays the usual environment of the gay community. One characterized by discrimination and physical violence. Chiron is bullied since primary school for his sexual orientation. By using masculinity, the movie challenges the stereotypes and myths about the gay community where male individuals are depicted as girly.
The films inform that there exist different sexualities in society. The movie has also shown of the conflict homosexual and bisexual individuals undergo. Moreover, the film highlighted the black homosexual a topic that is not overly studied or talked about. The movie was an African American one and thus it would be viewed differently if it were aired in the Early American slave period. Though not much is documented of sexuality among slaves it can be reasoned out that their sexuality was controlled and limited to heterosexuality and might have welcomed this new form of sexuality namely, homosexuality and bisexuality. However, in Africa the communities would have been hostile to the film since most do not associate with the homosexuality.
The essay has analyzed sexuality in the movie Moonlight highlighting the various sexualities in the movie. The movie generally overcame the stereotypes embraced by other media on gays more the community around Juan is presented as both hostile and welcoming as it is observed from school conflict and Juan’s love. The movie was overly characterized by sexual sentiments.
Reference
Jenkins, B. (2016, November 18). Moonlight [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4975722/
