Does Grafenwoehr have snow? That was something when I read the play I just saw and believed this would have happened to him. Chiron is the focal point of the story, but there is another character who stood out to me more than anyone else in the film: Juan. Chirons mother was aware of her sons sexual orientation. Randomly, Chiron is contacted by an old friend who he has not seen in years. TG:Theres a scenewhenLittle and the other boys at school gather around in a circle to show off their private parts. Shes a rotten baby, flailing around, as full of bile as Terrel (Patrick DeCile, in an incredible characterization), who bullies Chiron at school. The motif of nicknames also persists into this chapter, echoing Juan's earlier story about when he was given the nickname "Blue." At the end of the day, you have to go back to your mom because we cant take these children from their parents, but it was important for me to represent that aspect of the community. Hes being pursued by a group of boys, and he ducks into a condemned building to escape. Everyone who watched the film Im pretty sure assumed that happened to Tarell. This is foregrounded when he arrives home after Kevin drops him off to find his mother asleep on the couch. Its every queer kids revenge fantasy, but what follows is every queer kids reality: fight back, and youll pay for it; the power does not belong to you. He does not feel ashamed anymore. Met with praise, it has since grossed over $27 million in the U.S. and Canada, despite having been produced on a $4 million budget. Place the lettuce in the bowl (washed or not). Juan passes away, but his wisdom sets Chiron on his journey from boyhood to manhood. How did he die? I feel like at that age it was important. I think if the movie went on for another week, then we might get to a point where theres actual release, but I felt like at that point the only thing the character was prepared for emotionally was to be held an act of intimacy because he doesnt allow anyone to touch him in the film at all. I aint never had that before. theGrio:What was it about Tarell Alvins McCraneys play that made you want to retell the story in film? One night, Chiron has a dream about his friend Kevin. And he knows he counts even more when Juan calls him by his nicknameLittleas a way of claiming him. Though portrayed as dead in the movie, his immense influence lived on through Chiron, the main Protagonist in the movie. The audience is left to assume that Juan has been crucified by the inevitable, doomed life of any long time drug-dealer. The protagonist, who. You Blue. Though portrayed as dead in the movie, his immense influence lived on through Chiron, the . By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. He is first introduced having a conversation with one of his customers. What did Juan Pablo say to Andi? Only references to him are made and his inspiration on Chiron is felt throughout the movie. You tell that bitch, 'you better not forget it,'" referring to Teresa. Whether or not Chiron could comprehend if he may have been gay at the time, the other boys target him. Because of Juan, Chiron has hope. Sanders has a conjurers gifts, and an intuitive understanding of how the camera workshow it can push into an actors face and consciousness, and how the actor can push back against the intrusion by inhabiting the reality of the moment. As the two of them argue about Chiron's upbringing, he berates her for taking the crack he gave her and for neglecting her son while she rebukes him for selling them to her in the first place and for criticizing her on how she's raising Chiron without him taking responsibility for raising Chiron himself. Either way, Juan had gone much too soon in Chiron's story. But the moment of love doesnt last. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Its amazing because a lot of the commentary [about the film] are coming back to how unique these characters are. 1. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! And the first time I read it, I think everyone involved will tell you they got really choked up and just really connected to this story and these characters, Ali, 42, who just won a Critics Choice award for the role, said on Good Morning America today. You almost feel cheated as a viewer. They make sexual comments about Teresa and Paula, implying that they are both prostitutes, to which Chiron instinctively reacts, grabbing Terrel by the shirt collar. ***Better Quality***Music: Barbara Lewis -- Hello Stranger (1963)Movie : Moonlight (2016) He tells Chiron to refrain from telling anyone about this indiscretion, saying, "I know you can keep a secret, dawg." Juan was a drug dealer, but he wasnt your typical thug hustling in their Miami streets. BJ:That character is what the whole project is based off. Chiron himself does ask Juan about being gay, but only because of a slur the other boys call him, however Juan tells him it's okay to be gay just to not let them call him slurs. While Juans appearance in the film is very short-lived compared to the rest of the characters, the impact Juan has on Chiron is profound. Chiron is a shy, withdrawn child largely due to his small size and being neglected by his mother, who is more concerned about getting her fixes and satisfying her carnal needs than taking care of him. by which I mean a lot of these very similar things happened to me. Even though I think theres very few people in general that can specially connect to Chirons experience, I think in some way all of have been the other, the person on the outside, maybe not persecuted to the degree that this young man is, but I think we all want to be loved and embraced and need connection and support and family and mentorship. Juan is a major character in the Oscar-winning filmMoonlight. They laugh, and Kevin says he didn't know Chiron smoked. The Privy Council is descended from the Curia Regis, which was made up of the king's tenants in chief, household officials, and other advisers.This group performed all the functions of government in either small groups, which became the king's council, or large groups, which grew into the great council and Parliament. When I read it, my first thoughtwas, How does he know the things he knows? Viewers first meet Chiron when he is a little boy and is troubled by both bullies and an addict mother. What happens next? One night, the two have an encounter where Juan ultimately berates her for her drug addiction as it leads to little to no parenting. Juan takes Chiron under his wing and teaches how to swim and overcome what life throws at him. He gives into these traditional ideas of masculinity not because they fit him, but as a survival tactic. We bring news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and entertained. A large part of the process wasme being able to empathize with Little and blend his life with myself and Tarell, who are all coming together as this one person. We also quickly learn that Juan has died in the space between the first and second chapter, a shockwave that we watch echo through Chiron's relationships with Kevin, Teresa, and Paula in this section. The ensemble performance of three actors in three separate acts: Little, Chiron, and Black, showcases the painful struggle of identity and homosexuality of one young black boy growing up in Miami, Florida (side note: Ill mostly be addressing Chiron by his actual name instead of by his two nicknames; Little and Black). This gesture is one of many that Jenkins, who, like McCraney, was raised in Liberty City, understands from the inside out. His words of wisdom continued to reassure Chiron whenever he felt alone and his transition from boyhood to manhood was made easier. Juan had given him hope and taught him that he always had a choice. The next day, Chiron meets Juan, telling him he hates his mother for the way she treats him. She tells him, "You're my only, and I'm your only," likewise a double edged sword, as it reminds him he won't find her pure, familial love anywhere else. As a little boy, Chiron does not fit the typical idea of masculinity, and the other boys bully him because of this. Because of these issues, Chiron is bullied, the slurs hurled at him which he doesn't understand beyond knowing that they are meant to be hurtful. I just know hes created a space to come out I dont mean come out of the closet, but a space to come out of his shell and allow himself to be held. Barry Jenkins: He did a great job of capturing the spirit and essence of this place that were from which is Liberty City, Miami. At home, Chiron ices his face and stares in the mirror fiercely. a bat. The audience is left to assume that Juan has been crucified by the inevitable, doomed life of any long time drug-dealer. I gonna call you Blue." He badgers Chiron further about his jeans being tighter then leaves, calling Chiron "Little." That final shot of him on the beach, as a boy, tells the audience that he is hopefully finding a way to better understand and accept himself, by finally reconnecting with Kevin in the film's closing moments, pointing toward a hopefully more emotionally open future. "What kind of dude walks around giving other dudes nicknames?" laurenjcreativity29@gmail.com. Feeling for the young boy, he invites him to spend the night with him and his girlfriend, before returning him to his mother the following day. Maybe Juan is looking at his past while the boy looks up at a future he didnt know he could have. By the second act, years have passed and Chiron has become a teenager. Poor sleep, sedentary activities, and eating too many processed or sugary foods are just some of the habits that may increase your risk of weight gain. Slang. Juans physical presence is only portrayed in the beginning of the movie. In response, she rebukes him for selling her the substance in the first place. But I can't help thinking he must have been lonely. This moment of confusionabout internalized self-hatred and the affection of namingis unlike anything thats been put onscreen before; it shows what freedom and pain can look like, all in one frame. After school, Terrel and some other bullies wait for Chiron, who hesitates to leave. What was the king's Privy Council? Playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney told NBC News that Moonlight is based on his own experiences about coming to grips with his Queen identity and growing up in Liberty City, a neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Of course, there is an obvious parallel between Kevin forcing Little to wrestle him in order to show the other boys he's tough and the scene in which Kevin beats Chiron to a pulp at the behest of Terrel. Kevin says, What have you got to be sorry for? As he works his hand down Chirons shorts, the camera pulls back; this is the only moment of physical intimacy in the film, and Jenkins knows that in this study of black male closeness the point isnt to show fucking; its to show the stops and starts, the hesitation, and the rush that comes when one black male body finds pleasure and something like liberation in another. Unfortunately, the circumstances surrounding his death are never revealed in the film itself. He wears his sensitivity like a shroud around his now muscular body, which looks very black in the moonlight as he lies in bed, startled to have received a phone call from Kevin after many years. He now goes by the name "Black," a nickname that was first given to him by Kevin. The two talk about times they want to cry, and Chiron says he wants to do many things that "don't make sense." My words come straight from the heart. This guy took him under his wing and protected him from the neighborhood bullies. Chiron was originally called Little because he was smaller than the other boys, was very quiet, and appeared powerless. Though portrayed as dead in the movie, his immense influence lived on through Chiron, the main Protagonist in the movie. Which sentence from the story Embers of Moonlight best explains why the narrator has never before watched the end of the Night of Rebirth? When Andi says she's "out of her element," Juan Pablo tells her, "We'll both be naked. The first image the trio felt they nailed was this image of Juan (Mahershala Ali). This one time, I run by this old lady. She pointed out to Juan about the peculiar way in which Chiron carries himself, especially his feminine walking style. What Really Happened To Fran Lockwood? Throughout the rest of the film, it is only explained through dialogue that Juan has died. The New Yorker may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. TG:Most black gay male characters in television and film are often stereotypical. In the dream, Kevin is being intimate with a woman, however, Chiron seems to be fixated on Kevin. At school the next day, Terrel asks Kevin if he remembers playing the game "knock down, stay down" as children, asking Kevin if he'll beat up whoever Terrel points out. The audience is left to assume that Juans life was cut short by his drug dealing activities. Much of the story is based on playwright Tarell Alvin McCraneys In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, which Jenkins says told the story of not just McCraneys childhood but his own. In the film's second act, Chiron is now a teenager and Juan has unfortunately passed. What Really Happened in this Game? Whereas Kevin was once interested in Chiron performing strength for their peers, Kevin is now the one performing for the bullies; he beats up Chiron against his will and is ultimately weaker than his friend, since Chiron chooses to rise to his feet after each blow. A clumsy or inelegant solution to a problem. Like, Im tired as hell right now, man, and I aint making no more than shoe money, but I aint got no worries man. When Chiron meets back up with Kevin (his childhood friend and lover) in the last act of the film, what color shirt does Kevin wear? BJ:The time in the movie shifts once we get to the diner. Chiron drives a similar slicked out car, but in the color of black, like his nickname. Moonlight (Film) study guide contains a biography of Barry Jenkins, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. "I kept thinking about Juan and really missing that character," he said. A group of school boys are chasing him which leads him to hide out in an abandoned apartment where Juan follows him into and takes him back to his home. Things that have died in the pool: 2 dragonflies. Ludwig van Beethoven is considered one of the greatest classical composers of all time. Upon being called out, Juan hangs his head in shame in what is a remarkably, powerful scene. Running away from bullies nearly all his life, the intimidated boy finds refuge in a derelict crack-den, where Juan, the expendable drug dealer, takes him under his wing. Kevin, though, is shocked to learn of Chiron's life. . Chiron lives for the moments when he can get away from his mothers countless recriminations and needs, and swim in the unfamiliar waters of love with Juan and Teresa. After their communion on the Miami ocean, Juan tells young Chiron of a story from when he was a young boy living in Cuba. Of course, no one in the nineties wanted to finance films about gay black men. They kiss, and Kevin gives Chiron a hand job. GradeSaver, Read the Study Guide for Moonlight (Film), Black Identity: The Struggle between Virility and Vulnerability, Color, Lighting, and Powerful Motifs: The Evocative Visual Design in Moonlight, Sexuality and Performance in Paris is Burning and Moonlight, View Wikipedia Entries for Moonlight (Film). Questions about identity, and whether one determines it for oneself, loom large in this section, chiefly in the form of Chiron's ultimate decision to respond in kind to the violence of his bullies. This law states that, despite chemical reactions or physical transformations, mass is conserved that is, it cannot be created or destroyed within an isolated system. The community I feel like, despite the fact that we were all struggling and everybody had somebody in their family that was going through what our mothers were going through, there was somewhere you could go where you would not getturned away. BJ:In a larger context, the movie for me is about rooting the film and the character of Chiron, but I also want to take the audience on the journey with Chiron. Chiron is then picked up by a police car, which leads into the third act. This one time, I run by this old lady. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. He was the first Muslim actor to ever receive an Academy Award. The movie ends with Black in Kevins arms, being free, accepted, and loved in their private moment together. They have things they yearn for, they hurt. How a man walks. Directors such as Marlon Riggs and Isaac Julien explored gay black masculinity in the nineties, but they did so in essay-films, which allowed the audience a kind of built-in distance. By avoiding the overblown clichs so often used to represent black American life in film, Barry Jenkins has created something achingly alive. As Chiron hesitates, Kevin approaches, apparently still one of Chiron's close friends. Chiron asks Kevin why he calls him "Black," saying, "What kind of dude walks around giving other dudes nicknames?" He tries to change the sheets on his bed there, and Teresa teases him, teaching him how to make a bed properly. TG:Teresa, who is played by Janelle Mona, serves as a surrogate mother to Chiron and contrast to his actual mother, Paula, who is a drug addict. So, Teresa is all that Chiron has left. A liquid cup and a solid cup are exactly the same size. But he doesnt have a Teresa, doesnt have anyone. We also quickly learn that Juan has died in the space between the first and second chapter, a shockwave that we watch echo through Chiron's relationships with Kevin, Teresa, and Paula in this section. After studying the Weight Watchers points chart, he/she can decide the number of points given to different types of foods. Little : [innocently] What's a faggot? Explain that scene in terms of his sexuality and its origin. For me, it was important to preserve Tarells voice. He knows that Chiron is marked for misery, and how will Juans heart bear it, let alone Chirons? Once I made that decision, it opened up this world where I could really see how things manifested itself in the character and how it would manifest itself in scenes, and I began to have a much clearer path of working towards manifestation of that section of intersectionality. Because of Juans lasting legacy, Chiron was finally able to live with himself and live freely. The next day, he seeks out Juan and his girlfriend Teresa. Kevin made Chiron feel loved and trusted; like how Juan had always treated Chiron from the moment he found the vulnerable little boy hiding away from the world. "Which sentence" means that you have been provided with answer choices or an exceprt from the story. Juan takes Chiron to one of their local Miami beaches and holds him in the water. The Birth of a Nation Isnt Worth Defending. Kevin, who is more comfortable in his own body, says that its because Chiron is black; to him, its not an insult. In Liberty City, Miami at the height of the crack epidemic, Afro-Cuban drug dealer Juan finds Chiron, a withdrawn child who goes by the nickname "Little," hiding from a group of bullies in a crackhouse. Chronicling one black boy's childhood in Liberty City, Miami, Moonlight gives viewers a look into what life is like in an inner city where drugs and poverty are in abundance.