moonlight cinematography analysis

The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. Theres a certain beauty to the sheen., For this scene we physically put ourselves in a scenario in which our environment had a massive influence on what kind of images we captured. 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. Jenkins, 37, was raised by a single mother who became addicted to crack. Moonlights focus on telling a well-realized story is evident in its camera movements as well. Their filmmaking style developed after they met in college at Florida State University. The second chapter of the film uses German film stock which is known for adding cyan to its shots, which alludes to the films name. Moonlight Film Analysis - 793 Words | Bartleby Lighting is used to challenge stereotypes by juxtaposing the dark things that happen to characters with bright and beautiful lights in the background. . This challenge arose regarding safety precautions that were in place for the actors; with Mahershala Ali having the water hit just above his waist and for the boy to be able to stand up as well without being submerged entirely by the curling and crashing waves. So we used oil. 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.. Cinematography.docx - 1 Analysis of cinematography in A Image Source: lensculture.com ( Earlie Hudnall, Jr., Viviane Sassen, courtesy of PDNB Gallery). Lets deep dive into some of the elements and cinematography techniques used in the film. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. PDF Moonlight Analysis Thompson Melanie There is not much point in writing a novel unless you can show the possibility [], Many philosophers have believed for centuries that no intrinsic meaning exists in the universe. When a character is the only one in an expanded frame, it highlights how alone they are. As Chiron finds a hiding place, the bullies insults become louder and louder. Moonlight Movie Discussion Questions | Study.com Above: Roys work from his book from Out Of The Blue. Without saying a lot, the film creates dramatic tension as well as a sense of intimacy that can so often get lost in the viewing process. 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. Jenkinss mom contracted HIV; McCraneys died of AIDS. (2016) has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and sensitive coming-of-age stories on celluloid. We walk through the film's structure, cinematography, sound and symbolism to show you . tripartite narrative and non-linear storytelling is also reminiscent of the latter. 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. This artistic music rising out of Chiron is almost not what the audience expects just as the soundtrack is to the movie. Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. But as the film ends, the final image is that of Little, barefoot on the beach, soaked in blue moonlight, these motifs merge to create one final image of healing. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Jaws follows the police chief Brody, along with scientist Hooper and shark hunter Quint, in their attempt to protect the town of Amity against a Great White shark that is terrorising . You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers. In both of these films, space and framing of the characters provide a coherent visual guide to the plots impact. 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. He. The expertise of cinematography in this movie is fluid. A man teaching a boy how to swim turns into a powerful moment of . The film is separated into three chapters, Little as his youth, Chiron as his adolescence, and Black as his early adult life. Summary. Home Essay Samples Entertainment Moonlight Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins. In this aspect, blue becomes the motif of rebirth and a fragmented identity. Then they [], Anthony Burgesss A Clockwork Orange is a novel pervaded by a multifaceted and intrinsic musical presence. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. This arc shot is a motif that is used repeatedly throughout the film and has two meanings. The most mesmerizing scene immerses you in the blue-green water of the Atlantic as Juan teaches Little to swim, complicating notions of masculinity and fatherhood while overturning a racist stereotype. 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. 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. 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. Your time is important. The cinematography also plays center stage in this film. As Juan walks over to say hello to the young men, the camera slithers behind him. I started talking about this movie 17 years ago when I first met Barry, Laxton tells TIME. Some of Moonlight 's most impactful moments are when characters look directly into the lens, confronting the audience in emotional moments. Laxton and Jenkins drew from varied sources to create a singular cinematic language for Moonlight. It is said that this scene was originally intended to be six hours to fully capture this scene but due to a storms untimely passing it was done within 90 minutes. All rights reserved. Laxton explained: In that moment, when shes very angry at her son, the pink light tips the audience to a different aspect of her, a different side to her., Laxton went to film school with Jenkins in the early aughts, at the Florida State Film School in Tallahassee, where for a time the two were roommates. How long-angle is something? The film, set in three acts, follows Chirons life, and opens with a drug deal using some familiar tropes of an archetypical dealer named Juan, played by Mahershala Ali, as he pulls into the frame in a flashy car to check in on one of his minions. Moonlights cinematography is the most important in establishing not only the characters and the environment but the relation between the two and their importance to the main theme of the film. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The camera circles around Chiron, but it is extremely close to the character, unlike how it was a comfortable distance in Juans scene, another way of showing how different their worlds are. We swirl around and around and around, and land on close-ups of Chiron and the other character, Kevin. Laxton had to maneuver a 200-pound camera in an underwater housing for the scene. Unlike the ugliness that was showcased with the green walls with Chiron, the blue light emphasizes this cold feeling that represents that moment in his life emotionally. 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. There are these sort of lonely frames that exist, even when hes a grown man. Right afterwards, as Juan sets up a drug deal, the camera swirls around the characters, establishing the neighborhood in a highly stylized setting before following the protagonist running across a field in a long take. But Moonlight is more Wong Kar Wai than The Wire. I knew that relationship like the back of my hand because thats where my life and Tarells overlapped, he told the Hollywood Reporter. Other photographers like the great Earlie Hudnall Jr. were found on Tumblr shared in dropbox folders along with the work of Dutch art photographer Viviane Sassen also had a huge influence on Laxtons choice of colors for some of the films most iconic scenes like the swimming lesson, set in it high contrast colors and crystalline blues. The close-up of Chiron after Juans offer clearly shows his anxiety. I mean Moonlight is not necessarily a realist movie by any stretch of the imagination. When Juan beckons Chiron to teach him how to swim, it is a long shot as Chiron decides what to do. It is a coming-of-age story that uses every camera trick in the book to create a film that the audience feels absorbed in the entire way through. Your favorite summer hobby and how you got into it. Your favorite beach reads and binge-worthy Netflix shows. When Juan is introduced, the camera follows behind him smoothly. Moonlight Film Analysis The director of this film clearly presents an idea of masculinity and how it especially is pertinent in context to the african american men in the film. Currently besotted with Maupassant, art history and all things Nolan, you can find me spacing out to Queen while I look for new things to obsess with. Let's fix your grades together! Moonlight is an American drama film that chronicles the life of African-American male Chiron, who is being raised by a careless mother in a harsh Miami neighbourhood. Cinematographer James Laxton films Ashton Sanders. September 5, 2020 by The Editors Leave a Comment. We were at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, sitting at a table in an otherwise empty lounge. I think that younger audiences are more accepting of this than older audiences. An analysis focussed on the sound, cinematography and mise-en-scne The non-linear storytelling is enhanced by the visual choices of the film. This is done substantively, with the emotional terrain of the characters, and its done visually, with angles and light. It is difficult to sum up all that feels new about Moonlight, which puts a fresh lens on so many things at once. Chiron is changed forever in the preceding scene. According to Moonlight cinematographer James Laxton, much of today's cinema has lost this subjective intensity. By continuing well assume you board with our cookie policy. 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. Color is one of the first things I notice about the sequence. The theme, being who we truly are and what our environment expects us to be, is the protagonists main conflict. 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. And all those things, oddly enough, I think what they do in a way is they disarm me. 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. Another scene where the camera circles around the characters is when Chirons bullies are forcing his friend to hit him for being different. Notes of Wais work can be felt in some of the most dramatic moments where Chirons mother, Paula, played by Naomie Harris, stands over her son scolding him while a pink light glows from her bedroom. The top five things on your summer bucket list this year. 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. The film follows the life of Chiron; a child residing in a predominantly black neighborhood. It's an intentional move away from the aloof style and perfection of most big budget. This is not an example of the work written by professional essay writers. We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Your work will be featured on our homepage and in our weekly Overheard on Odyssey newsletter. 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. The immersion in water is reminiscent of a baptism, and this motif is repeated throughout the film. No words are spoken and the two characters are just staring at one another. It allows the audience to almost be disarmed in the first three minutes of this opening shot, says Laxton. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of his life. When Kevin and Chiron wrestle, the camera becomes shaky and cuts to shots of their arms and legs. The camera, said Laxton, is playing with our associations by saying, in effect, Heres something youve seen before. Weve always placed powder on skin to dull the light. We will occasionally send you account related emails. (Moonlights editors, Joi McMillon and Nat Sanders, were schoolmates, as was one of the its producers, Adele Romanski, to whom Laxton is now married.) Laxton used Hawk V-Lite anamorphic lenses, throughout the film to help amplify the emotional state of the characters within the majestic widescreen format. Jenkins and Laxton were of the opinion that since the widescreen ratio is automatically associated with franchise blockbusters, telling an intimate story of sexuality and belonging with the same dimensions would serve to create an atmosphere of total artistic unity. Moonlight doesn't just look and sound great. Thats an idea that kind of came out of our process on the set. Moonlight, which is up for six Golden Globes and is likely to earn as many Oscar nominations, leaves a lasting impression on your mind and eye, and its impact is not limited to yourpresent field of vision. Laxton was also heavily inspired by photography. 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. While Juan is respected by his peers, Chiron is persecuted by them. While I think audiences are actually chomping at the bit for really personal unique visions of things. . They remind me that Im having an experience that is really personal. On set it rounded out this character in this moment that is very dark and very intense. From this belief emerged many responses, including absurdism and existentialism. It somehow seems appropriate in a way that again doesnt speak to the realism of the movie but it somehow speaks to the emotional value that I think we were trying to present to our audience. In a scene that could have been so much darker and so much grittier this lighting choice elevates the scene to a slightly surreal place. Which is ever so fucked up, actually., They decided to use a digital camera called the ARRI Alexa, because with non-actors in the cast, they did not want to be inhibited by film stock, and because, of the digital options, the Alexa is best at rendering natural skin tone, Laxton said. 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. I first did not understand the scene, analytically as well the cinematographic choices, but the more I look into it, the deeper I realize it is. 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. Two faces, two connected souls. Elements of Visual Design in The Film Moonlight - GradesFixer Moonlight Explained: Symbols, Camera & More - The Good Men Project For Chiron, his community ostracizes him for being gay. But "Moonlight" is a film about faces. Plot is not so much the concern as an intensive character study is. Although all are heavily influenced by the beliefs [], We provide you with original essay samples, perfect formatting and styling. Moonlight (Film) Summary and Analysis of "Introduction - GradeSaver 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. While it doesnt have the most bold, visual, stylistic stuff happening, theres a real precision to choices we were making that Im very interested in. David Bornfriend/A24. The film opens with a very stylized, swirling shot of a drug dealer, Juan, played by the magnificent Mahershala Ali. How you are depicting someone. In the following, indispensable video essay from Screen Prism, the structure, cinematography (by James Laxton), sound . Where do you want us to send this sample? 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. But a community can also be a cage. 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. But it allowed us to understand that shes a whole character as well., When asked about his favorite scene in the film Laxton immediately turns to the third act where the shift in style in subtle and more nuanced. This also brings the film to a symbolic full circle, ending with the nascent stages of. They also used anamorphic lenses, which normally allowmultiple characters to play out a scene in the same wide-screen frame. Jenkins reflects on the theme of prejudice through an array of symbolistic features to illustrate the evolution of Chiron from a man to a child. Rather, there is classical music playing which allows himself to disconnect from his external reality, for the music that often plays is a direct signifying factor of his inner self. Look no further! 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. I think its really funny that the business generally is sort of moving towards a directing by committee approach. For one, this scene accomplishes this visual confirmation of the weakness that Kevin holds due to his closeted insecurities. The sights, sounds, and smells of a summer day in your hometown. 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. Analysis of The Structure of The Film Moonlight - GradesFixer 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. Everything we did was in real locations, which was important for us to create that authentic sensibility that Moonlight is supported by. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The duo also shares a lot of photography. The use of natural and ambient light throughout the film mixed with small warm fill lights and touches of color play on the films dream-like sense of reality. Continue with Recommended Cookies, An avid reader and a life-long lover of blue skies,. We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. Throughout Moonlight Chirons character maintains a sense of childlike behavior that carries into his adulthood. The Atlantic Ocean is a bright blue while the scene challenges what black fathers are supposed to be. 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 Juan holds Little above the water. is a film of few words. Looking for a way to spend your summer doing something creative and fulfilling? Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Moonlight is a story about seemingly contradictory things. Judgment is something I think Im very concerned with in filmmaking, Laxton said. Breaking the fourth wall. Blue serves as a source of solace and peace for. Jenkins uses all the tools there are in camerawork to create a story thats personal to each and every person. Some of the most impactful moments are relayed through stares. I just feel satisfied that we got what we set out to get. This notion of being bathed in a primarily pink environment as she screeches away at Chiron was very much a necessity for it reveals a different side to her and insight to a different aspect of her life. Both films use color to reflect the mood of the scene and what the characters are thinking. Its a historically black community where the majority of residents live below the poverty line. to swim as a transcendental moment. Moonlights setting in Miami was essential to the story. But my memory of growing up in Miami is this moist, beautiful black skin. The reason for using the flicker box was here applied to a fluorescent light, instead of its usual occupation which produces lighting effects. When you walk around the city, perspiration is inherent to the experience. Moonlight exquisitely uses light and color to enhance the immersion of the audience into Chiron's thoughts and feelings. We were lighting them with a style that was more realistic than flattering and we wanted the skin tones to feel warm and not harsh. (James Laxton Creates Poetic Look). 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. 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. 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 . 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. Moonlight, and its ocean setting is a significant motif in this film that illustrates the coming of age of a young black man in Miami. Through his association with the color blue, Juan is introduced as a guardian, and a much-needed father- figure that has been missing from Chirons life. We see him immerse his face in an ice bath, framed by flickering lights. "I think for all of us around there, and especially for Barry because this is so personal to him, that just . The director and cowriter, Barry Jenkins, won praise for his empathetic depiction of complex characters. sexual intimacy and the resulting violence, as well as. We walk through the film's structure, cinematography, sound and symbolism to show you what you might have missed about this immersive. This film was the first with an all African-American cast and LGBTQ-based storyline to win an award of this prestige. Its a very familiar interaction. Barry Jenkinss first film, Medicine for Melancholy, has a similar theme to his second feature film. 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. When it comes to depicting the lives of African American communities on screen, there is a precedent set by films that have come before Moonlight. In Moonlight, it's the process of keeping the audience aware of the maker's hand and of the actors playing. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. Jaws Cinematography Analysis 709 Words | 3 Pages. All of these things speak to judgment. The natural light gives the characters a soft glow and presents the characters in a way that does not feel fabricated. We open on the curb of a street in Liberty City, a tough neighborhood in Miami, as a souped-up classic car, its dashboard decorated with a miniature crown, pulls up and parks. There is a greater meaning to all the seemingly unimportant saturation of colors and camera angles. 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help you just now, Berry Jenkins intimate film Moonlight, follows the struggle of a young sensitive black man trying to find himself against his society's expectations of masculinity and identity. The effect is such that we are not watching them swimming; instead, we are right there next to them. 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.
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