Jonnie Mills | Staff Writer
July 26, 2023
Warning: spoilers ahead
For the first, and last time, scholars were able to walk far off perimeter to do something non focus area related. People piled in front of Franklin hall to walk over to the engineering building to watch either Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse (the majority favorite), or to see Moonlight. We decided on Moonlight.
Moonlight follows Chiron through his different stages of life living as an African-American queer man in Miami. It starts out with his boyhood labeled “Little.” This was used as a nickname for Chiron throughout his childhood, and shows how he goes through different struggles while being guided by a nurturing figure named Juan. This phase of life gives perspective on how Chiron has to deal with all the problems that, he’s facing, all on his own even though he is only a child.
As Chiron gets older, he starts to find his own identity and his true self. This is when you find out that this who Chiron truly is, which makes the title of this stage fitting, “Chiron.” Chiron has many external and internal struggles through this teenage stage of his life, but he also starts to find himself, and find what he truly wants in life. Though fate does intervene and change his original plans, Chiron carves his own and rightful path for his teenage years.
The last stage is titled “Black.” This stage follows him as an adult in a different city after fate changed what he had planned for his life. Even though fate may have not given him the path he wanted it made up for it during “Black,” when he receives an unexpected phone call. This call changes everything for the good, and leaves the viewers with heartwarming last scenes that makes everything feel complete.
We loved the movie so much, which makes it hard to find a certain scene, quote, or character. Overall, though, we loved the very last scene when Chiron is with Kevin, and Kevin offers him some tea. It’s such a warm moment when Chiron knows that he has finally found exactly where he wants to be. This scene would definitely be one of the best, in our opinion of course.
The Horseshoe Award, for this film, is going to Kevin. Kevin is one of the main focus points throughout the entire film. He goes through very similar struggles along side of Chiron through his different stages of life. When they reunite during “Black,” it ignites a fire that everyone had been waiting for. It kept everyone very intrigued for what was to come next.
“At some point, you gotta decide for yourself who you gonna be. Can’t let nobody make that decision for you.” This line is spoken by Juan and is our overall favorite. The line is from the first phase, “Little,” and is when Juan is talking with Chiron about life advice. It really stuck with us throughout the entirety of the film.
We give this film 4.8/5 Shoes Up!
