“Who is you, man?” Dramatic film has long been fascinated with issues of identity,
First, you make your requisite black-and-white feature debut for less than a half-million dollars (Following) in England. Then you come over to America,
in Barry Jenkins’ masterful “Moonlight,” one of the essential American films of 2016.
“Moonlight” is a film that is both lyrical and deeply grounded in its character work, a balancing act that’s breathtaking to behold.
It is one of those rare pieces of filmmaking that stays completely focused
on its characters while also feeling like it’s dealing with universal themes about identity,
sexuality, family, and, most of all, masculinity. And yet it's never preachy or moralizing.
It is a movie in which deep, complex themes are reflected through character first and foremost.