moonlight cinematography analysis

Shes yelling at her son. No words are spoken and the two characters are just staring at one another. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. This arc shot is a motif that is used repeatedly throughout the film and has two meanings. The light inside the building came from the lamps and it gave a natural and realistic feel to the diner. The bold color palette and bold lighting choices, rife with lens flare that communicated the sweltering heat of Miami were inspired from the films of Wong Kar-Wai. Laxton recalls his experience, carrying a 200 pound underwater housing with the camera inside and wrestling the tide trying to make sure [they] were at the right height to see the performances above water to be difficult. It becomes clear that Terrence is an employee of Juan's who deals . Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/analysis-of-cinematography-in-moonlight-by-barry-jenkins/. 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. 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. You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers. The entire scene is a single shot, showing how natural Juan fits in the neighborhood with effortless authority. Through his association with the color blue, is introduced as a guardian, and a much-needed father- figure that has been missing from. Where because movies are costing so much money these days that theres so much at stake and therefore everyone, every sort of person involved with the film chimes in with their of personal feelings. to swim as a transcendental moment. While Juan is respected by his peers, Chiron is persecuted by them. In the color correction, we embraced the brightness and high contrast, intending to emphasize the heightened sense of extremes., We needed an image that had the aggression of our characters state of mind. 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. The non-linear storytelling is enhanced by the visual choices of the film. At the end of the film, the last shot is Chiron standing in front of the Atlantic in the moonlight. He. Cinematographer James Laxton shot every scene in Moonlight with clear purpose; to capture and express Chiron's inner world from moment to moment. It allows the audience to almost be disarmed in the first three minutes of this opening shot, says Laxton. Its a historically black community where the majority of residents live below the poverty line. Moonlight follows Chiron, an African American living in a rough neighborhood of Miami. The neighborhood has pastel-colored houses, the Atlantic Ocean a blue-green, and Chirons mother being bathed in neon pink while shouting at him. In both of these films, space and framing of the characters provide a coherent visual guide to the plots impact. Later in the film when Chiron enters the diner scene, it is a long shot to present the setting and feel of the diner. The color blue and water are the most prominent throughout. Here, we wash away the old Chiron, and introduce a new one., Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 5/25/18) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 5/25/18). As a writer for Odyssey, youll have the opportunity to share your voice with our community of readers from all over the world. The use of the circular motion is used to provoke a specific pressure, especially that in which comes from the in-group. This artistic music rising out of Chiron is almost not what the audience expects just as the soundtrack is to the movie. An Analysis of Barry Jenkins' Moonlight "In moonlight, black boys look blue," Juan relays to Little in one of the early scenes of Moonlight, the Oscar winning screenplay by Barry Jenkins. The camera slowly goes toward Chiron until he turns his head to look behind him. Plus, for your first 10 articles, youll be compensated by HQ at $10/response. The same weakness is shown to immobilize Chiron, however, his ability to remain static throughout the situation represents some degree of mental toughness that was unseen before this scene. Laxton and Jenkins drew from varied sources to create a singular cinematic language for Moonlight. 22 Must Watch Films For Great Cinematography. Nevertheless, the brutality and explicit [], "The woman looked at the tree: the fruit would be good to eat; it was pleasing to the eye and desirable for the knowledge it could give. 2 Analysis of cinematography in A Better Life and Moonlight Director Barry Jenkins uses cinematography in the film "Moonlight." From the beginning of the scene, lighting is at play as Chiron approaches the diner. Jenkins and Laxton were aware of the fact that they were dealing with stories that had previously been depicted, and sought to, When it comes to depicting the lives of African American communities on screen, there is a precedent set by films that have come before. When Chiron finally joins him, the camera jump cuts and it is no longer a long shot as Chiron begins to have fun. Theres a delicacy to I think my work in that scene that I think really makes me feel really proud., It evolved when the character is also evolving, says Laxton. This is where the association with water is relevant. 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 Sequence Analysis: Cinematography The sequence that sticks out to me in the movie Moonlight is when Juan teaches Chiron how to swim. Cinematographer James Laxton shot every scene in Moonlight with clear purpose; to capture and express Chirons inner world from moment to moment. As the second part ends and the third begins, a grown-up, , dunks himself in an ice bath yet again, as if to erase all traces of his past scared self through this ritual and be reborn again as the powerful drug lord that he has grown into. 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 sights, sounds, and smells of a summer day in your hometown. . Right afterwards, as. And thats still true today.. 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. Natural light is also used during the diner scene. Little is taught how to swim by his new father-figure, he is compelled to float on the water, Let go, dont fight the water, Juan says as he cradles his head through this revelatory moment. The green hues and flicker of the florescent lighting enhance the slow motion and camera movement to give us the feeling of a heart broken with violence. With shots burned by lens flares and bold camerawork viewers are a reminded that being personal in every level can help a story resonate with an audience. 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. makes no such commitments. . Barry Jenkins's first film, Medicine for Melancholy, has a similar theme to his second feature film. We see him immerse his face in an ice bath, framed by flickering lights. As the sky progressively turns grey, it contrasts against the clear ocean, presenting how the characters feel emotionally. Both films use color to reflect the mood of the scene and what the characters are thinking. So was McCraney, 36. On set it rounded out this character in this moment that is very dark and very intense. The effect is such that we are not watching them swimming; instead, we are right there next to them. Many critics view Laxtons cinematography as visual poetry, through his use of techniques to further tell a sophisticated story. 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. We used it as the opposite of that, to show the character alone within this vast frame, to emphasize the isolation. Laxton added, Its a format, a kind of lens, that is associated with large blockbuster movies: the Star Treks, the Star Wars. In both of these films, space and framing of the characters provide a coherent visual guide to the plots impact. All of these things speak to judgment. When Juan breaks down the boards to the house, lights fill the room. We see him immerse his face in an ice bath, framed by flickering lights. This lighting gives the character depth and not just a negative stereotype of an abusive mother. Its sort of funny that this moment is happening at a time when those two things could not be further apart from one another., Moonlight moves away from the coldness on anything impersonal and uses a well-worn authenticity along with a small handful of the films recognized by the Academy this year. Moonlight makes no such commitments. Since one of the concepts of our visual language had to do with being immersive, it was a must to put the camera in the water, within the tides and waves of the ocean, to experience the swimming lesson as the characters do. Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. 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. One shot is taken as Chiron and the other as Black (playing into teenager vs adult) . In 2017, the film Moonlight was awarded Best Motion Picture at the 74th Academy Awards. Best of all, you can do it all from the comfort of your own home or wherever you happen to be spending your summer. Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins, takes a look at a young black male growing up in Miami named Chiron. Get custom essays. If you fit this description, you can use our free essay samples to generate ideas, get inspired and figure out a title or outline for your paper. The non-linear storytelling is enhanced by the visual choices of the film. Another strategy in accentuating the films unique feeling is using a single Arri Alexa XT camera through the whole shoot. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below: By clicking Send, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. Barry Jenkins's first film, Medicine for Melancholy, has a similar theme to his second feature film. Immediately after the first scene, the camera moves to Chiron being chased by his bullies. When describing the look of the characters within the location Jenkins told TIME last month, Cinema is a little over 100 years old, and a lot of what we do is built around film emulsion. At the end of the second part. Maybe you think you know whats about to come in the next hour and a half., You dont, and thats the point. To do this we went for some soft, overhead dramatic lighting with accents of color, one of those being the pink light in the background behind the character Paula. focus on telling a well-realized story is evident in its camera movements as well. Barry Jenkinss first film, Medicine for Melancholy, has a similar theme to his second feature film. Juan, a confident drug dealer, emerges from the car and crosses the street to greet Terrence. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. 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. In this aspect, blue becomes the motif of rebirth and a fragmented identity. Color is one of the first things I notice about the sequence. When Chirons mother begins to leave, she continues to stare at Chiron and walk into the door where the pink lighting was coming from. Then when Kevin enters the scene, the camera stands in front of the doorway and now it looks gigantic. This also brings the film to a symbolic full circle, ending with the nascent stages of. 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. While the plot proves for a strong base, the cinematography is what really makes the film stand out, winning an Oscar for Best Picture. The camera stops and Chiron looks to the audience as if beckoning to join him. This scene is much more than the light fixture, however, but also the engrossed colors that illuminated the shots. Its what our job is: To depict a judgment. There is an inherent tension, then, between his role and the effect he is hoping to elicit. 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). Which is a scene I think we have seen. Moonlight, American dramatic film, released in 2016, that unexpectedly won the Academy Award for best picture. 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. Cinematography Vs Videography: Whats The Difference? It is through these very techniques that. According to Laxton, this was an idea that took shape in pre-production. How the light looks on someones face. Cinematographer James Laxton and director Barry Jenkins on location in Miami. 2022 Mar 11 [cited 2023 May 1]. Lighting is used to challenge stereotypes by juxtaposing the dark things that happen to characters with bright and beautiful lights in the background. The film follows the life of Chiron; a child residing in a predominantly black neighborhood. The story of Moonlight invites the audience to follow the life of a character whos young, black, queer and who feels so alienated from the world around him that he cant see himself as he is. Moonlight is a film of few words. Ad Choices. 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. We walk through the film's structure, cinematography, sound and symbolism to show you what you might have missed about this immersive. At the end of the second part, Chiron has been beaten up and bloodied by his bullies. With rich hues that provide vital cues and swift camera movement, the film cautiously walks the line between realistic storytelling and a process of expressionist imagery. Moonlight was loosely adapted from an unpublished [], Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. We follow him as he grows up in Liberty City, Miami with no father and a mother struggling with a crack addiction, plus all the pressure of being a Black boy. (2016) has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and sensitive coming-of-age stories on celluloid. The waves distort the lens to accentuate the feeling of being present at such an intimate moment. According to Laxton, We wanted to make sure our black-skinned actors would look natural and interesting skin tone. Laxton pushes the camera closer and closer towards the characters so as to create moments of intentional bonding between them and the audience. That pink light behind her in that scene and within the film generally helps to express another side of her, says Laxton. 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. GradesFixer. Similar themes are present in both films, but Jenkinss sophomore film shows how much the filmmaker has improved. 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. This film was the first with an all African-American cast and LGBTQ-based storyline to win an award of this prestige. Jenkins, 37, was raised by a single mother who became addicted to crack. 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. They remind me that Im watching a movie. I think whats happened is that the realistic aesthetic applied to drug addiction, or lower socioeconomic classes, portrays the characters as having dark or depressive mentalities, Laxton said. But my memory of growing up in Miami is this moist, beautiful black skin. These find correlation in both the Objective Story Throughline and the Main Character Throughline: Little deals with the Past and Being (Objective Story Transit 1 and Main Character Transit 1) Its sort of a fake-out. In this aspect, blue becomes the motif of rebirth and a fragmented identity. 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. Laxton creates pure poetry on celluloid that is perfectly equipped to conjure a story of self-discovery and acceptance. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man . Continue with Recommended Cookies, An avid reader and a life-long lover of blue skies,. He is young, black, gay, poor, and largely friendlessthe kind of person who feels like he could literally vanish from being so unseen by the world. Light bulbs were changed from green to blue during a diner scene later in the film. We walk through the film's structure, cinematography, sound and symbolism to show you . Those things were calibrated for white skin. I think its that moment where the language in which Moonlight is established. The bright colors used are different than the usual dark and harsh colors American indie movies that tackle social issues usually have.

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