moonlight cinematography analysis

While Juan is respected by his peers, Chiron is persecuted by them. The film follows the life of Chiron; a child residing in a predominantly black neighborhood. 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. This also brings the film to a symbolic full circle, ending with the nascent stages of Chirons story. 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. Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins - GradesFixer They remind me that Im watching a movie. When Chirons mother begins to leave, she continues to stare at Chiron and walk into the door where the pink lighting was coming from. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Its for grand stories and big-scope thoughts. Moonlight is a story about seemingly contradictory things. 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. 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. But "Moonlight" is a film about faces. Breaking the fourth wall. Tell us about your travels! Moonlight was directed by . Cinematographer James Laxton films Ashton Sanders. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. He borrowed elements from the work of photographers Earlie Hudnall Jr and Viviane Sassen. Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. 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. Moonlights tripartite narrative and non-linear storytelling is also reminiscent of the latter. Laxton cites director Spike Lee and Claire Denis as inspirations as well as Wong Kar-Wais work on films like Happy Together and In the Mood For Love. They also used anamorphic lenses, which normally allowmultiple characters to play out a scene in the same wide-screen frame. The camera goes to a low-angle shot as Chirons glare becomes harder and the sound of his harsh breathing becomes louder. Natural light was used during this scene and the humidity in the air made the actors skin a softer glow. (2016) has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and sensitive coming-of-age stories on celluloid. 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. 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. The camera is always placed as close to the actors as possible, so as to put the viewer in the scene. So much is happening behind their eyes. Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins' Movie Moonlight Essay. Barry Jenkins' Moonlight (2016) has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and sensitive coming-of-age stories on celluloid. Moonlight was filmed in Liberty City, Miami, where the neighborhood houses are pastel-colored and trees a tropical green. All of these things speak to judgment. Cinematographer James Laxton shot every scene in Moonlight with clear purpose; to capture and express Chirons inner world from moment to moment. THE IMAGES THAT INSPIRED JAMES LAXTON | BY PAUL MOAKLEY. The close-up of Chiron after Juans offer clearly shows his anxiety. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of his life. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. After the bullies leave, Chiron wanders around and finds a syringe, foreshadowing his profession in the third part of the film. He borrowed elements from the work of photographers Earlie Hudnall Jr and Viviane Sassen. 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. There is a greater meaning to all the seemingly unimportant saturation of colors and camera angles. The film is driven by the internal conflicts of the characters, instead of a plot. For all of the modern marvels of special effects, 3-D glasses, even shaking seats and simulated experience, what these films lack is the capacity to engage our imaginations. As Juan releases him to float, Chiron quickly steadies himself and Juan says, Right there, youre in the middle of the world. Were currently seeking writers to join our summer writing program. 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. Natural light is also used during the diner scene. Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins' Movie Moonlight Essay. A fourth wall break happens when Chiron and his friend look directly at the camera as if the character is talking to the audience. When he washes off his bloodied face he is simultaneously washing away the old Chiron, thereby ushering the audience into the third chapter in which we see a parallel to the bathroom scene, only now with Black. 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. Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins Essay. The film has a retroactive effect. It is important to remember that this scene was after Kevin touched Chiron both physically and emotionally. Some of Moonlight 's most impactful moments are when characters look directly into the lens, confronting the audience in emotional moments. The camera is sped up and closing in on Chiron and his friend, trapping them even further. Above: D.N.A., 2007. When we tell stories about characters in this context, the go-to style is often a bleak realism. Juan, a confident drug dealer, emerges from the car and crosses the street to greet Terrence. The cinematography also plays center stage in this film. Remember: This is just a sample from a fellow student. Moonlight is a masterclass in expressive camera and sound. Manage Settings By continuing well assume you board with our cookie policy. This is done substantively, with the emotional terrain of the characters, and its done visually, with angles and light. But presenting it in maybe a way thats providing a larger lens to look through.. 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. Moonlight Cinematography Analysis - The Odyssey Online When Chiron finally joins him, the camera jump cuts and it is no longer a long shot as Chiron begins to have fun. 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. Your California Privacy Rights. As a writer for Odyssey, youll have the opportunity to share your voice with our community of readers from all over the world. The whole thing was one camera, says Laxton. 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). We will occasionally send you account related emails. Jenkins uses all the tools there are in camerawork to create a story thats personal to each and every person. 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. 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 (Film) Summary and Analysis of "Introduction - GradeSaver While the plot proves for a strong base, the cinematography is what really makes the film stand out, winning an Oscar for Best Picture. Growing up in his early days, Chiron does not have a male or fatherly figure in his life. There are these sort of lonely frames that exist, even when hes a grown man. Please update your browser at http://update.microsoft.com. It allows the audience to almost be disarmed in the first three minutes of this opening shot, says Laxton. The composition of this notable scene juxtaposes the ingrained idea of Juan being a gang affiliated drug dealer as he takes on the role of father of the protagonist. 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. The choice to portray what looks like a stereotypical drug deal, and then swiftly move towards the vulnerability of Little/Chiron, as he is bullied serves to subvert audiences expectations and sets the right tone. Movie Analysis Essay on Moonlight - proessays.net The assumption is that the story will be told in a tonality that prioritizes the gritty and bleak real-ism of their world. 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 follows Chiron, an African American living in a rough neighborhood of Miami. So we used oil. 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. Which is a scene I think we have seen. 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. Many circular shots are filmed with the intention of creating this facade of being accepted or with the in-group. Sassens work possesses a wonderful blend of color and the saturation of natural textures and hues of skin that, While the story is told in three distinct parts that correspond to different parts of, , these are united by the expressionistic use of color and certain motifs. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of [.] Jenkinss mom contracted HIV; McCraneys died of AIDS. 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. According to Laxton, this was an idea that took shape in pre-production. I think we all have gazes, says Laxton about his take on photography. Both films use color to reflect the mood of the scene and what the characters are thinking. At the end of the second part. The light inside the building came from the lamps and it gave a natural and realistic feel to the diner. Lets consider the sequence where Juan teaches Little to swim. The Photographic Inspirations Behind Moonlight, 2016's Best Picture How the cameras moving through a space. 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. Cinematography Vs Videography: Whats The Difference? 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. Its most prominent themes are love, stereotypes and identity. Barry Jenkins's first film, Medicine for Melancholy, has a similar theme to his second feature film. The camera gives Chirons point of view so that when the other boys stare at Chiron, they are looking at the audience. The low immersive camera is combined with this authentic fluid motion that gives the audience the sensation that we are immersed within this endless horizon of water, much like Little, thus enabling the audience to experience Chiron's baptism as he does himself. Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Continue with Recommended Cookies, An avid reader and a life-long lover of blue skies,. 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. Moonlight Cinematography Analysis | James Laxton - Flickside makes no such commitments. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The film is driven by the internal conflicts of the characters, instead of a plot. 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. David Bornfriend/A24. Their 15-year history affords Laxton an intimate pre-production period not often given to a cinematographer., References were identified early on: Wong Kar Wais Happy Together, Hou Hsiao-hsiens Three Times, Spike Lees Clockers, the films of Claire Denis. For their singular vision for storytelling, Moonlight famously won Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards. In the midst of this pivotal moment of self-discovery theres a real awareness of the camera as the water is lapping against the lens. 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. CN Fashion & Beauty, 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). An analysis focussed on the sound, cinematography and mise-en-scne The attempt was to promote those emotions, not just to present them, but to promote them to a place where you can sense the intensity by which Chirons character is going through these things. The two men didnt know each other at the time, but they have together brought the hyper specificity and full emotional heft of their lived experience to bear on the story of Chiron, a poor, black, and gay boy who comes of age in a Liberty City housing project. This film was the first with an all African-American cast and LGBTQ-based storyline to win an award of this prestige. Another strategy in accentuating the films unique feeling is using a single Arri Alexa XT camera through the whole shoot. That it should feel so radicalfor a kid from the projects to be portrayedwith a complete, three-dimensional portraitstirs up a heightened, devastating awareness of how rare a thing this is. Let us write you an essay from scratch, Order a custom essay from our writers and get it on time, Structural Analysis Of The Movie Moonlight Essay, Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins Movie Moonlight Essay, The Main Message Of The Film Moonlight Essay, Comparing Barry Jenkins And Richard Linklater's Works Essay, A Comparison Between the American Psycho and a Clockwork Orange Essay, A Study of the Character Alex in a Clockwork Orange Essay, The Role of Music in Bringing Out the Theme in a Clockwork Orange Essay, Free Will vs Morality in a Clockwork Orange Essay, The theme of morality and ethics in A Clockwork Orange Essay. Barry Jenkinss first film, Medicine for Melancholy, has a similar theme to his second feature film. You blue, thats what Im gon call you.. Its a very familiar interaction. During one of the film's many memorable dialogue exchanges (written by . has been beaten up and bloodied by his bullies. Right afterwards, as. A prominent scene depicts this where the protagonist is taught how to swim in the ocean by his father figure Juan. 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. 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. Moonlight is a masterclass in expressive camera and sound. In another shot, Littles mom, Paula, played by the brilliant Naomie Harris, is bathed in pink light as she fumes at her son. The Atlantic Ocean is a bright blue while the scene challenges what black fathers are supposed to be. 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. The top five things on your summer bucket list this year. This shot of Tyrell is menacing, adding a dizzy effect due to the erratic spinning of the camera which is the direct result of the audience feeling a sense of uncertainty; uneasy about how this situation will play out. Laxton also shot Jenkinss previous film, Medicine for Melancholy. Some of the most impactful moments are relayed through stares. A person may deal drugs for money, but no moral baggage is ascribed to this detail; it recedes into the background, having nothing whatever to do with their value system. to swim. Everything we did was in real locations, which was important for us to create that authentic sensibility that Moonlight is supported by. Dollars from the household of a dealer may end up in Chirons pocket and later in the hands of Chirons mother, who doubtless will return them to a dealer. 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. The theme, being who we truly are and what our environment expects us to be, is the protagonists main conflict. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. The film, which was critically acclaimed for its fresh take on race, African-American queer sexuality, and nuanced understandings of masculinity was told through bold colors and realism in the mode of cinematography. The director and cowriter, Barry Jenkins, won praise for his empathetic depiction of complex characters. Moonlight's cinematography hubs on the contrast between Littles's place and Juan's in this world (Aguirre, Abby). The camera stops and Chiron looks to the audience as if beckoning to join him. The use of color in the film to provide context for emotional moments, and eye-catching lighting in an expressionistic mode can also be seen in films like Chungking Express (1994), and In the Mood for Love (2000). 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 lighting gives the character depth and not just a negative stereotype of an abusive mother. Bold, saturated colors and soft lighting that express the emotional beats of the film lend a touch of dream-like surrealism to the story. 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. In Moonlight, it's the process of keeping the audience aware of the maker's hand and of the actors playing. 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. 2023 Oscars Analysis: Academy, 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Win 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. 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. Here, it symbolizes the community and tight connection between the boss, employee, and customer. The immersion in water is reminiscent of a baptism, and this motif is repeated throughout the film. The waves distort the lens to accentuate the feeling of being present at such an intimate moment. Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. 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. We see him immerse his face in an ice bath, framed by flickering lights. Students who find writing to be a difficult task. Analysis of Cinematography in Barry Jenkins' Movie Moonlight is a film of few words. The color blue and water are the most prominent throughout. As Chiron finds a hiding place, the bullies insults become louder and louder. 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 scene is about a dealer interacting with his guy on the corner, right? I started talking about this movie 17 years ago when I first met Barry, Laxton tells TIME. For one, this scene accomplishes this visual confirmation of the weakness that Kevin holds due to his closeted insecurities. The bathroom walls that encapsulate Black are pigmented with this blue light which in turn illustrates his hardened feelings this far in the performance. We never had two cameras actually. Whether its one of the many tracking shots following Chirons back through his world or watching his reaction, one can sense a precision in every shot. The location of teenage Chiron provided the audience with this darkness and grotesque feel due to the green tone of his bathroom. A man teaching a boy how to swim turns into a powerful moment of . 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. The last sequence particularly stands out; upon breaking down in, , standing in front of the sea and looking right back at the viewer, awash in moonlight and hinting at self-acceptance. Chiron is changed forever in the preceding scene. 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.
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