Moonlight review – vastatg drama is val portra of black gay masculy Ameri | Moonlight | The Guardian

Contents:

• MOONLIGHT REVIEW – VASTATG DRAMA IS VAL PORTRA OF BLACK GAY MASCULY AMERI
• MOONLIGHT IS A BETIFULLY NUANCED GAY G-OF-AGE TALEMOONLIGHT IS A BETIFULLY NUANCED GAY G-OF-AGE TALE
• “MOONLIGHT” IS A RARE AND BETIFUL NEW FILM ABOUT GROWG UP BLACK AND GAY
• DON’T STOP AT “MOONLIGHT”—THERE ARE OTHER BLACK QUEER MOVI TO SEEFILMMAKERS WHO VISUALIZE THE WORLDS AND LIVED EXPERIENC OF BLACK LGBT PEOPLE ARE OVERDUE FOR SER ATTENTN. {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY DARNELL L. MOOREAPRIL 20, 2017/3:40 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}MOONLIGHT/A24BY DARNELL L. MOOREAPRIL 20, 2017 / 3:40 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"DON’T STOP AT “MOONLIGHT”—THERE ARE OTHER BLACK QUEER MOVI TO SEE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-04-20T19:40:24.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-04-20T19:40:24.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DARNELL L. MOORE","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE FEW RECENT FILMS AS VISUALLY STUNNG AND HONT AS BARRY JENKS’S MOONLIGHT. THE FILM, BASED ON TARELL ALV MCCRANEY’S PLAY, IN MOONLIGHT BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE, IS A WORK SOME CRICS HAVE NARROWLY SCRIBED AS AN “LGBT FILM.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT MOONLIGHT IS MUCH MORE THAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FILM IS A CEMATIC MEDATN ON FAY, BOYHOOD, MANHOOD, TIMACY, IENDSHIP, BETRAYAL, FIVENS, HUMAN PLEXY, AND HOME, TOLD OM THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF BLACK CHARACTERS NAVIGATG LIFE URBAN AMERI—CHARACTERS AND EXPERIENC OFTEN MISSG THE GENRE OF LGBT FILMS. AND THAT IS WHY I UTN THE BROAR, WHE, LGBT MUNY TO NOT BE SO QUICK TO CLAIM MOONLIGHT AS S OWN JT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A NEW YORKER REVIEW, HILTON ALS SCRIBED TAIL THE MANY WAYS MOONLIGHT "UNDO OUR EXPECTATNS" OF BLACK REPRENTATN CEMA. BUT ALSO UNRAVELED THE EXPECTATNS OF WHE HOLLYWOOD AFTER THE ALL BLACK ST AND PRODUCTN TEAM WON AN OSR FOR BT PICTURE—ONLY AFTER THE SAME AWARD WAS MISTAKENLY HAND OVER TO THE MOSTLY WHE PRODUCTN TEAM AND ST OF LA LA LAND. THE GAFFE WAS AN IRONIC EXAMPLE OF THE WAYS EXCEPTNAL BLACK FILMS TEND TO BE OVERSHADOWED BY THOSE CENTERG ON WHE CHARACTERS—EVEN IF SUCH FILMS ARE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE WATCHG THE AWARDS, I WASN’T EVEN STUNNED WHEN LA LA LAND WAS ANNOUNCED. ONLY A HANDFUL OF FILMS CENTERED ON BLACK PEOPLE’S LIV, DIRECTED BY BLACK PEOPLE, HAVE ACTUALLY WON BT PICTURE. I WAS MOST SURPRISED WHEN THE MISTAKE WAS CLARIFIED AND MOONLIGHT WAS ANNOUNCED AS THE REAL WNER.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT’S WELL-SERVED SUCCS IS E FOR LLECTIVE CELEBRATN. IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN BLACK FILMMAKERS SPECIFILLY CREATE ART FOCED NOT ON THE HOLLYWOOD GAZE, BUT ON THE WORLDS OM WHICH BLACK PEOPLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT IS ALSO A REMR BLACK MEN WHO FALL LOVE WH OTHER BLACK MEN, LIKE THE TWO MA CHARACTERS MOONLIGHT, ARE NOT NECSARILY BT INTIFIED AS “GAY.” Y, THE FILM PICTS TWO BLACK BOYS-BEG-MEN DISVERG THEIR LOVE, BUT THEIR EXPRSNS OF TIMACY ARE NO QUEERER, NO MORE PROFOUNDLY LIBERATG, THAN THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF BETIFUL AND TRANSFORMATIVE WORK BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE ALWAYS CREATED, AND NOT JT THIS YEAR. BLACK FILMMAKERS WHOSE WORKS VISUALIZE THE WORLDS AND LIVED EXPERIENC OF BLACK PEOPLE—SOMETIM THROUGH CHARACTERS WHO INTIFY AS LGBT—ON THE BIG SCREEN OR THE INTER ARE OVERDUE FOR PUBLIC PRAISE. AND EVEN IF THE FILM DTRY AND PUBLIC REFE TO OFFER PRAISE, THE WORK OF THE FILMMAKERS IS NO LS BRAVE AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THIS TO BE TE AND HAVE SOUGHT TO “CREATE DANGEROLY,” AS HAIAN-AMERIN STORYTELLER EDWIDGE DANTIT ENURAG, SPE THE WAYS THE AMERIN FILMMAKG DTRY HAS LONG RISTED STORI CENTERED ON BLACKNS AND BLACK LGBT EXPERIENC.TONGU UNTIED/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FILMMAKERS CLUDG MARLON RIGGS, THE BLACK GAY CREATOR OF CELEBRATED DOCUMENTARI LIKE TONGU UNTIED (1989) AND BLACK IS... BLACK A’T (1994), AND BLACK LBIAN FILMMAKER CHERYL DUNYE, THE GENI BEHD THE CLASSIC THE WATERMELON WOMAN (1997), ARE ARTISTS WHOSE WORKS CRIQUED THE SHORTSIGHTEDNS OF MOST LGBT BLOCKBTER FILMS, WORKS WHICH TEND TO LACK BLACK REPRENTATN, S BEFORE MOONLIGHT’S WELL-SERVED ACCLAIM. BUT THERE ARE OTHER FILMMAKERS AND FILMS THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DEE RE’ 2007 FILM, PARIAH, TELLS THE STORY OF BLACK TEENAGE LBIAN ALIKE (APERO ODUYE), GROWG UP AND DISVERG HER QUEERNS BROOKLYN’S FORT GREENE. CHARL B. BRACK’S 2008 DOCUMENTARY DREAM DEFERRED: THE SAKIA GUNN FILM PROJECT REVISS THE MURR OF A 15-YEAR OLD OM NEWARK AND THE RULTG URT BATTLE, AND SHEDS LIGHT ON WHAT MEANS TO LIVE LIFE AS A YOUNG BLACK LBIAN NAVIGATG A WORLD WHERE HOMO-ANTAGONISM MIGHT LERALLY KILL.STUD LIFE/ NEW LIME REPUBLIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CAMPBELL X’S 2012 FILM STUD LIFE ALSO TACKL THE PLEXY OF BLACK LBIAN LIV. AND THERE ARE OTHER FILMS THAT PEER TO BLACK GIRLHOOD, WOMANHOOD AND LBIAN EXPERIENC THE PUBLIC MT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DIRECTED BY DREAM HAMPTON 2015, THE DOCUMENTARY TREASURE: FROM TRAGEDY TO TRANS JTICE MAPPG A DETRO STORY, CHRONICL THE LIFE AND MURR OF SHELLY “TREASURE” HILLIARD, A 19-YEAR-OLD TRANS WOMAN OM DETRO. SEAN BAKER’S HILAR EDY TANGERE (2015) EXPLOR THE NER LIV OF TRANS WOMEN SEX WORKERS.STILL BLACK/BLACK STAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KORTNEY RYAN ZIEGLER’S GROUNDBREAKG DOCUMENTARY, STILL BLACK: A PORTRA OF BLACK TRANSMEN (2008), IS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE ONLY FILM FOCED ON THE LIV OF BLACK TRANS MEN. AND JACQUELE GAR’ FREE CECE, WAS RELEASED 2016, FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FILMS’ NAMAKE, CECE MCDONALD, A BLACK TRANS WOMAN OM MNEAPOLIS TOOK A PLEA AL FOR A SEND-GREE MANSLGHTER CHARGE RECEIVED FOR FENDG HERSELF AGAST A MAN WHO ATTACKED HER WHILE WALKG WH HER IENDS ON A PUBLIC STREET.THE SKNY/ SZYMON SAYZ {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PATRIK IAN POLKS’ NOAH’S ARC: JUMPG THE BROOM (2008), THE SKNY (2012) AND BLACKBIRD (2014) OFFER NTEMPORARY TAK ON BLACK GAY LOVE AND IENDSHIPS, WHILE DARI CLARK MONROE’S SHORT "SLOW" (2011) ADDRS THE TERSECTNALY OF DISABILY, QUEERNS, AND BLACK LOVE. AND THE WEB SERI NO SHA (2015), IS A TEAR-DRIPPG EDY ABOUT BLACK LGBT LIFE NEW YORK OM CREATIVE AND ROMANTIC PARTNERS SEAN ANTHONY AND TERRY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF FILMS CENTERED ON THE LIV OF BLACK PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND FUCK PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY SERVE MORE. FILMMAKERS N ONLY CREATE MORE WORKS, HOWEVER, IF THEY HAVE THE FANCIAL ROURC AND DTRY SUPPORT TO DO SO. MOONLIGHT WAS THE LOWT-BUDGET FILM TO EVER W THE OSR FOR BT PICTURE. WHILE THAT'S EVINCE OF BARRY JENKS’ ARTISTRY AND GENUY, 'S ALSO DITIVE OF A LARGER PROBLEM: AS LONG AS LIMED ROURC ARE DIRECTED TOWARD BLACK FILMS, AS LONG AS HOLLYWOOD . THKS SUCH FILMS WON'T REACH MASS DIENC, THE DTRY’S WHENS PROBLEM WILL NEVER BE FIXED.NO SHA/SLAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THANK THE UNIVERSE, THOUGH, FOR THE GENI AND TENACY OF BLACK ARTISTS: NEXT MONTH, THE TORRGTONS ARE LNCHG SLAY TV, AN ONLE PLATFORM FOR ORIGAL NTENT—WEB SHOWS, MOVI, SHORTS, UNSCRIPTED SERI, DOCUMENTARI, MIC, AND MORE—FOCG ON QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR. AND THEY'RE NOT WAG FOR THE MASTREAM AND LGBT FILM DTRI TO GIVE THEIR BLSG. IT'S THAT KD OF DANGEROLY CREATIVE CISN THAT WILL PROPEL BLACK FILMMAKERS, CULTURAL PRODUCERS, AND DIENC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN READY FOR THE WORKS. BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO CREATE SPE LIMATNS. IT’S UP TO THE FILM DTRY AND THE LGBT FILM MARKET TO TCH UP, OR S BACK AND WATCH OM BEHD AS BLACK FILMMAKERS NTUE TO PH GREAT AND NECSARY ART TO THE ONT OF THE STAGE WHOUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• ‘IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE VULNERABLE’: HOW MOONLIGHT REFLECTS BEG A BLACK GAY MAN THE US
• 'MOONLIGHT' EXPLOR OFTEN UNSEEN GAY, BLACK MALE EXPERIENCE
• MOONLIGHT

MOONLIGHT REVIEW – VASTATG DRAMA IS VAL PORTRA OF BLACK GAY MASCULY AMERI

The creasgly documented humany towards Ain Amerin men by police and the btal act of homophobia that took mostly Hispanic liv at a gay club Orlando have awakened many to the bleak knowledge that progrs is stallg and stead, regrsive views on race and sexualy are still dangeroly pervasive. It’s a thrillg, eply necsary work that opens up a much-need and rarely approached on-screen nversatn about the nature of gay on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alv McCraney, the film follows the life of a man three key stag.

MOONLIGHT IS A BETIFULLY NUANCED GAY G-OF-AGE TALEMOONLIGHT IS A BETIFULLY NUANCED GAY G-OF-AGE TALE

It’s yet more levy that helps the film om beg unrelentgly Jenks don’t pull any punch showg the cshg lonels and horrific vlence of beg a gay man a culture where homosexualy is seen as a weakns. We see the visible and visible srs that velop om a lack of acceptance and by the time we fally meet adult Chiron, played wh credible nuance by ex-athlete Trevante Rhos, he’s trapped by his own sire, regulatg his behavur to remove anythg that uld be seen as “gay”. It’s betifully choreographed and easily the most believably timate gay pairg sce Andrew Haigh’s Weekend.

Moonlight is a profoundly movg film about growg up as a gay man disguise, a difficult and damagg journey that’s realised wh staggerg re and licy and one that will ronate wh anyone who has had to do the same. We’re starved of the narrativ and Jenks’ electrifyg drama shows why they are so hugely important, providg an dience wh a rarely seen portra of what really means to be a black gay man Ameri today.

Like Carol and Brokeback Mounta before , Moonlight nveys the pa of the ntug social stigma around homosexualy, the search for eedom and love, and the nstant stggle to munite and drop personal barriers. Moonlight rembl Brokeback Mounta and Carol s lh stagg, tensely ternal performanc, and treatment of the gay experience a very specific i.

“MOONLIGHT” IS A RARE AND BETIFUL NEW FILM ABOUT GROWG UP BLACK AND GAY

Set Miami the late 1980s and ’90s, the film chronicl the g-of-age of a gay black boy—Chiron (“shy-rone”)—as he stggl wh his sexualy, peer prsure, and a dg-addicted sgle mother. In part, that had to do wh the fact that people would ll me gay or feme, and was always a word they ed to h me wh. MJ: How old were you when you knew you were gay, and were you allowed that space at home?

There were gay people Liberty Cy when I was a kid. People we knew were gay, whom our parents talked to and talked about.

DON’T STOP AT “MOONLIGHT”—THERE ARE OTHER BLACK QUEER MOVI TO SEEFILMMAKERS WHO VISUALIZE THE WORLDS AND LIVED EXPERIENC OF BLACK LGBT PEOPLE ARE OVERDUE FOR SER ATTENTN. {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY DARNELL L. MOOREAPRIL 20, 2017/3:40 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}MOONLIGHT/A24BY DARNELL L. MOOREAPRIL 20, 2017 / 3:40 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"DON’T STOP AT “MOONLIGHT”—THERE ARE OTHER BLACK QUEER MOVI TO SEE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-04-20T19:40:24.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-04-20T19:40:24.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DARNELL L. MOORE","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE FEW RECENT FILMS AS VISUALLY STUNNG AND HONT AS BARRY JENKS’S MOONLIGHT. THE FILM, BASED ON TARELL ALV MCCRANEY’S PLAY, IN MOONLIGHT BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE, IS A WORK SOME CRICS HAVE NARROWLY SCRIBED AS AN “LGBT FILM.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT MOONLIGHT IS MUCH MORE THAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FILM IS A CEMATIC MEDATN ON FAY, BOYHOOD, MANHOOD, TIMACY, IENDSHIP, BETRAYAL, FIVENS, HUMAN PLEXY, AND HOME, TOLD OM THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF BLACK CHARACTERS NAVIGATG LIFE URBAN AMERI—CHARACTERS AND EXPERIENC OFTEN MISSG THE GENRE OF LGBT FILMS. AND THAT IS WHY I UTN THE BROAR, WHE, LGBT MUNY TO NOT BE SO QUICK TO CLAIM MOONLIGHT AS S OWN JT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A NEW YORKER REVIEW, HILTON ALS SCRIBED TAIL THE MANY WAYS MOONLIGHT "UNDO OUR EXPECTATNS" OF BLACK REPRENTATN CEMA. BUT ALSO UNRAVELED THE EXPECTATNS OF WHE HOLLYWOOD AFTER THE ALL BLACK ST AND PRODUCTN TEAM WON AN OSR FOR BT PICTURE—ONLY AFTER THE SAME AWARD WAS MISTAKENLY HAND OVER TO THE MOSTLY WHE PRODUCTN TEAM AND ST OF LA LA LAND. THE GAFFE WAS AN IRONIC EXAMPLE OF THE WAYS EXCEPTNAL BLACK FILMS TEND TO BE OVERSHADOWED BY THOSE CENTERG ON WHE CHARACTERS—EVEN IF SUCH FILMS ARE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE WATCHG THE AWARDS, I WASN’T EVEN STUNNED WHEN LA LA LAND WAS ANNOUNCED. ONLY A HANDFUL OF FILMS CENTERED ON BLACK PEOPLE’S LIV, DIRECTED BY BLACK PEOPLE, HAVE ACTUALLY WON BT PICTURE. I WAS MOST SURPRISED WHEN THE MISTAKE WAS CLARIFIED AND MOONLIGHT WAS ANNOUNCED AS THE REAL WNER.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT’S WELL-SERVED SUCCS IS E FOR LLECTIVE CELEBRATN. IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN BLACK FILMMAKERS SPECIFILLY CREATE ART FOCED NOT ON THE HOLLYWOOD GAZE, BUT ON THE WORLDS OM WHICH BLACK PEOPLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT IS ALSO A REMR BLACK MEN WHO FALL LOVE WH OTHER BLACK MEN, LIKE THE TWO MA CHARACTERS MOONLIGHT, ARE NOT NECSARILY BT INTIFIED AS “GAY.” Y, THE FILM PICTS TWO BLACK BOYS-BEG-MEN DISVERG THEIR LOVE, BUT THEIR EXPRSNS OF TIMACY ARE NO QUEERER, NO MORE PROFOUNDLY LIBERATG, THAN THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF BETIFUL AND TRANSFORMATIVE WORK BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE ALWAYS CREATED, AND NOT JT THIS YEAR. BLACK FILMMAKERS WHOSE WORKS VISUALIZE THE WORLDS AND LIVED EXPERIENC OF BLACK PEOPLE—SOMETIM THROUGH CHARACTERS WHO INTIFY AS LGBT—ON THE BIG SCREEN OR THE INTER ARE OVERDUE FOR PUBLIC PRAISE. AND EVEN IF THE FILM DTRY AND PUBLIC REFE TO OFFER PRAISE, THE WORK OF THE FILMMAKERS IS NO LS BRAVE AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THIS TO BE TE AND HAVE SOUGHT TO “CREATE DANGEROLY,” AS HAIAN-AMERIN STORYTELLER EDWIDGE DANTIT ENURAG, SPE THE WAYS THE AMERIN FILMMAKG DTRY HAS LONG RISTED STORI CENTERED ON BLACKNS AND BLACK LGBT EXPERIENC.TONGU UNTIED/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FILMMAKERS CLUDG MARLON RIGGS, THE BLACK GAY CREATOR OF CELEBRATED DOCUMENTARI LIKE TONGU UNTIED (1989) AND BLACK IS... BLACK A’T (1994), AND BLACK LBIAN FILMMAKER CHERYL DUNYE, THE GENI BEHD THE CLASSIC THE WATERMELON WOMAN (1997), ARE ARTISTS WHOSE WORKS CRIQUED THE SHORTSIGHTEDNS OF MOST LGBT BLOCKBTER FILMS, WORKS WHICH TEND TO LACK BLACK REPRENTATN, S BEFORE MOONLIGHT’S WELL-SERVED ACCLAIM. BUT THERE ARE OTHER FILMMAKERS AND FILMS THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DEE RE’ 2007 FILM, PARIAH, TELLS THE STORY OF BLACK TEENAGE LBIAN ALIKE (APERO ODUYE), GROWG UP AND DISVERG HER QUEERNS BROOKLYN’S FORT GREENE. CHARL B. BRACK’S 2008 DOCUMENTARY DREAM DEFERRED: THE SAKIA GUNN FILM PROJECT REVISS THE MURR OF A 15-YEAR OLD OM NEWARK AND THE RULTG URT BATTLE, AND SHEDS LIGHT ON WHAT MEANS TO LIVE LIFE AS A YOUNG BLACK LBIAN NAVIGATG A WORLD WHERE HOMO-ANTAGONISM MIGHT LERALLY KILL.STUD LIFE/ NEW LIME REPUBLIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CAMPBELL X’S 2012 FILM STUD LIFE ALSO TACKL THE PLEXY OF BLACK LBIAN LIV. AND THERE ARE OTHER FILMS THAT PEER TO BLACK GIRLHOOD, WOMANHOOD AND LBIAN EXPERIENC THE PUBLIC MT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DIRECTED BY DREAM HAMPTON 2015, THE DOCUMENTARY TREASURE: FROM TRAGEDY TO TRANS JTICE MAPPG A DETRO STORY, CHRONICL THE LIFE AND MURR OF SHELLY “TREASURE” HILLIARD, A 19-YEAR-OLD TRANS WOMAN OM DETRO. SEAN BAKER’S HILAR EDY TANGERE (2015) EXPLOR THE NER LIV OF TRANS WOMEN SEX WORKERS.STILL BLACK/BLACK STAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KORTNEY RYAN ZIEGLER’S GROUNDBREAKG DOCUMENTARY, STILL BLACK: A PORTRA OF BLACK TRANSMEN (2008), IS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE ONLY FILM FOCED ON THE LIV OF BLACK TRANS MEN. AND JACQUELE GAR’ FREE CECE, WAS RELEASED 2016, FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FILMS’ NAMAKE, CECE MCDONALD, A BLACK TRANS WOMAN OM MNEAPOLIS TOOK A PLEA AL FOR A SEND-GREE MANSLGHTER CHARGE RECEIVED FOR FENDG HERSELF AGAST A MAN WHO ATTACKED HER WHILE WALKG WH HER IENDS ON A PUBLIC STREET.THE SKNY/ SZYMON SAYZ {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PATRIK IAN POLKS’ NOAH’S ARC: JUMPG THE BROOM (2008), THE SKNY (2012) AND BLACKBIRD (2014) OFFER NTEMPORARY TAK ON BLACK GAY LOVE AND IENDSHIPS, WHILE DARI CLARK MONROE’S SHORT "SLOW" (2011) ADDRS THE TERSECTNALY OF DISABILY, QUEERNS, AND BLACK LOVE. AND THE WEB SERI NO SHA (2015), IS A TEAR-DRIPPG EDY ABOUT BLACK LGBT LIFE NEW YORK OM CREATIVE AND ROMANTIC PARTNERS SEAN ANTHONY AND TERRY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF FILMS CENTERED ON THE LIV OF BLACK PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND FUCK PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY SERVE MORE. FILMMAKERS N ONLY CREATE MORE WORKS, HOWEVER, IF THEY HAVE THE FANCIAL ROURC AND DTRY SUPPORT TO DO SO. MOONLIGHT WAS THE LOWT-BUDGET FILM TO EVER W THE OSR FOR BT PICTURE. WHILE THAT'S EVINCE OF BARRY JENKS’ ARTISTRY AND GENUY, 'S ALSO DITIVE OF A LARGER PROBLEM: AS LONG AS LIMED ROURC ARE DIRECTED TOWARD BLACK FILMS, AS LONG AS HOLLYWOOD . THKS SUCH FILMS WON'T REACH MASS DIENC, THE DTRY’S WHENS PROBLEM WILL NEVER BE FIXED.NO SHA/SLAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THANK THE UNIVERSE, THOUGH, FOR THE GENI AND TENACY OF BLACK ARTISTS: NEXT MONTH, THE TORRGTONS ARE LNCHG SLAY TV, AN ONLE PLATFORM FOR ORIGAL NTENT—WEB SHOWS, MOVI, SHORTS, UNSCRIPTED SERI, DOCUMENTARI, MIC, AND MORE—FOCG ON QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR. AND THEY'RE NOT WAG FOR THE MASTREAM AND LGBT FILM DTRI TO GIVE THEIR BLSG. IT'S THAT KD OF DANGEROLY CREATIVE CISN THAT WILL PROPEL BLACK FILMMAKERS, CULTURAL PRODUCERS, AND DIENC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN READY FOR THE WORKS. BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO CREATE SPE LIMATNS. IT’S UP TO THE FILM DTRY AND THE LGBT FILM MARKET TO TCH UP, OR S BACK AND WATCH OM BEHD AS BLACK FILMMAKERS NTUE TO PH GREAT AND NECSARY ART TO THE ONT OF THE STAGE WHOUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

In the hood, the hypermascule gangster archetype seems like the anthis of gayns. Why did this aler feel pelled to take this gay kid and make him feel fortable wh himself? And he uld see that past a perceived homosexualy, a tra they probably didn’t share.

‘IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE VULNERABLE’: HOW MOONLIGHT REFLECTS BEG A BLACK GAY MAN THE US

It would be harmful for me to pretend that there were no gay people around. It is an example of what is possible when black filmmakers specifilly create art foced not on the Hollywood gaze, but on the worlds om which black people is also a remr black men who fall love wh other black men, like the two ma characters Moonlight, are not necsarily bt intified as “gay.

Filmmakers cludg Marlon Riggs, the black gay creator of celebrated documentari like Tongu Untied (1989) and Black Is... Brack’s 2008 documentary Dream Deferred: The Sakia Gunn Film Project reviss the murr of a 15-year old om Newark and the rultg urt battle, and sheds light on what means to live life as a young black lbian navigatg a world where homo-antagonism might lerally kill.

And Jacquele Gar’ Free CeCe, was released 2016, four years after the films’ namake, CeCe McDonald, a black trans woman om Mneapolis took a plea al for a send-gree manslghter charge received for fendg herself agast a man who attacked her while walkg wh her iends on a public Ian Polks’ Noah’s Arc: Jumpg the Broom (2008), The Skny (2012) and Blackbird (2014) offer ntemporary tak on black gay love and iendships, while Dari Clark Monroe’s short "Slow" (2011) addrs the tersectnaly of disabily, queerns, and black love.

'MOONLIGHT' EXPLOR OFTEN UNSEEN GAY, BLACK MALE EXPERIENCE

If you haven't heard, Moonlight is a tly remarkable portrayal of black gay inty. Jim Chuchu, Kenya, 2014Kenyan filmmaker Jim Chuchu and the Nairobi-based Nt Collective's anthology, one of Okayai's Top Films of 2014, picts queer life Kenya through a seri of five black-and-whe vigte is based off of a te story om a larger photo project, also tled Stori of Our Liv, which The Nt Collective archived the ttimoni of persons intifyg as gay, lbian, bisexual, transgenr and tersex om Kenya begng June 2013. Roger Ross Williams, USA, 2013Amy Award-wng filmmaker Roger Ross Williams' 2013 documentary is a powerful exposé on how Amerin evangelils are brgg vlent homophobia to Uganda.

MOONLIGHT

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Dpe renewed lls for people to judge the film on s own importance, the distrsg accatns of rape agast Parker – s star, as well as wrer and director – have meant s red-rpet-to-awards glory is lookg nsirably ls no movie was perhaps ever more sorely required to prevent another #OsrsSoWhe than Moonlight: Barry Jenks’s drama trackg a black gay man at three stag over his film has had an extraordary embrace on the tumn ftival circu; s brilliance has left few stumblg out of the cema unmoved. It is a sentiment that, oddly, echo that of Parker, who claimed he would never play a gay character bee of the need to “prerve black masculy”. ”In the film, Chiron regulat his behavur orr to prevent people om knowg he’s gay, but the bulli at school and his cel mother are aware of his sexualy and persecute him as a rult.