We walk through the film's structure, cinematography, sound and symbolism to show you what you might have missed about this immersive. Chiron is changed forever in the preceding scene. Blue serves as a source of solace and peace for Chiron Juans first introduction and their subsequent meeting are framed in the vivid blue of his car, and his apartment. The neighborhood has pastel-colored houses, the Atlantic Ocean a blue-green, and Chirons mother being bathed in neon pink while shouting at him. Please update your browser at http://update.microsoft.com. That being said, I dont think the movies untrue. Lets deep dive into some of the elements and cinematography techniques used in the film. The natural light gives the characters a soft glow and presents the characters in a way that does not feel fabricated. The effect is such that we are not watching them swimming; instead, we are right there next to them. 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. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper. But "Moonlight" is a film about faces. Our idea was to present them visually with that same amount of intensity. Its funny how much license you can get with some choices like that pink light, says Laxton. How the cameras moving through a space. You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers. "I think for all of us around there, and especially for Barry because this is so personal to him, that just . 22 Must Watch Films For Great Cinematography. Moonlights cinematography uses bold colors and stunning shots to create an emotional experience. 2 Analysis of cinematography in A Better Life and Moonlight Director Barry Jenkins uses cinematography in the film "Moonlight." From the beginning of the scene, lighting is at play as Chiron approaches the diner. 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. How high-angle is something? Bold, saturated colors and soft lighting that express the emotional beats of the film lend a touch of dream-like surrealism to the story. They remind me that Im having an experience that is really personal. Moonlight (Film) Summary and Analysis of "Black" (Part One) Summary At the start of this chapter, we see the same image of Paula yelling at Little in the pink light of her room. In Moonlight we follow Shyrone in three chapters of his life, following three phases of his life that stands out for its form and execution. How 'Moonlight' Uses Cinematography to Wreck Us Emotionally Maybe subconsciously we chose it for Moonlight in an effort to depict this community in a brand new light., These choices may be subtle, but their cumulative effect is why theNew York Times film critic A. O. Scott described Moonlight as a poem written in light. In this poem, there is little place for commentary. But Moonlight is more Wong Kar Wai than The Wire. The baptism scene illustrates a swimming lesson between Juan and Little in the ocean. Moonlight doesn't just look and sound great. When Juan is introduced, the camera follows behind him smoothly. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Instead, the camera simply allows the audience to see them at their most humane moments with their flaws and hopes laid bare. "Moonlight" Exclusive Image Courtesy of Color Collective and A24 Testing the Limits of Contrast To capture Miami, Laxton knew he'd want the actors' skin to have a big shine, so the audience could. PDF Moonlight Analysis Thompson Melanie At the end of the film, the last shot is Chiron standing in front of the Atlantic in the moonlight. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. But blue is also the color of identity, or rather, the symbol of the formation of an identity. 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. Barry Jenkins' Moonlight is a movie about Chiron, the protagonist, through three significant periods of his life. What thats done over the last, say, 30 years is it has made the audience assume that of these communities. One shot is taken as Chiron and the other as Black (playing into teenager vs adult) . Moonlight Cinematography | LensCulture But this idea that the medium is always present when watching something I think is a good thing. to swim. 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. Chiron's eyes say so much that this young man has not been taught how to express. Moonlight, which is up for six Golden Globes and is likely to earn as many Oscar nominations, leaves a lasting impression on your mind and eye, and its impact is not limited to yourpresent field of vision. At the end of the second part. Moonlight is shot in anamorphic format, which made it when the characters stare into the camera that much more dramatic. Another strategy in accentuating the films unique feeling is using a single Arri Alexa XT camera through the whole shoot. The close-up of Chiron after Juans offer clearly shows his anxiety. These pops of color offer a beauty and map to understand the full existence of our characters., We start this sequence with a shot inspired by an animal circling its prey. Authenticity is something I think were always sort of playing with, says Laxton, when discussing their creative process. The expertise of cinematography in this movie is fluid. We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Especially visually, it isnt. Color and light are tools for transcendence, used to reframe and illuminate. The filmmakers create meaning from these through combining different elements of aesthetics . Little is taught how to swim by his new father-figure, he is compelled to float on the water, Let go, dont fight the water, Juan says as he cradles his head through this revelatory moment. The same weakness is shown to immobilize Chiron, however, his ability to remain static throughout the situation represents some degree of mental toughness that was unseen before this scene. Its sort of a fake-out, the films director of photography, James Laxton, said recently. In 2017, the film Moonlight was awarded Best Motion Picture at the 74th Academy Awards. Plus, for your first 10 articles, youll be compensated by HQ at $10/response. The idea of the opening sequence to have these two highly disparate shots welded together is the essence of the film. Professional Writers that Guarantee an On-time Delivery. 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. The scene in which Chiron comes face to face with his largest enemy (himself) through a clean glass mirror serves as an interesting shot for cinematographers and audiences. There is not much point in writing a novel unless you can show the possibility [], Many philosophers have believed for centuries that no intrinsic meaning exists in the universe. The scene is about a dealer interacting with his guy on the corner, right? I think we all have gazes, says Laxton about his take on photography. Some of the most impactful moments are relayed through stares. Here, it symbolizes the community and tight connection between the boss, employee, and customer. The camera slowly goes toward Chiron until he turns his head to look behind him. Those things were calibrated for white skin. Juan, a confident drug dealer, emerges from the car and crosses the street to greet Terrence. In moonlight black boys look blue. We see him immerse his face in an ice bath, framed by flickering lights. Both Jenkins and Linklater [], The controversy surrounding Brett Easton Ellis's American Psycho and Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange relates primarily to the central themes that are explored in both books. The non-linear storytelling is enhanced by the visual choices of the film. I think the color pink can have a lot of associations but I think one of them can be beauty. understand that identity is often shaped by ones circumstances, and people only see the person shaped by their lot in life, not who they truly are. With shots burned by lens flares and bold camerawork viewers are a reminded that being personal in every level can help a story resonate with an audience. 100% Customized to Your Need with Expert Writers Netflix can claim responsibility for six wins best international feature, cinematography, original score and production design for its German-language film All Quiet on the Western Front; best . These frames provide a sense of loneliness that hes still struggling with as an adult and still permeate the visual language that we were using in story three., Thinking back to his own childhood Laxton says, I remember wearing out VHS tapes of my favorite movies as a kid and having the tracking being a mess and trying to watch movies that were faded. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/analysis-of-cinematography-in-moonlight-by-barry-jenkins/. This arc shot is a motif that is used repeatedly throughout the film and has two meanings. I mean Moonlight is not necessarily a realist movie by any stretch of the imagination. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of his life. Your California Privacy Rights. This lighting gives the character depth and not just a negative stereotype of an abusive mother. Moonlight is an insightful and compelling independent film directed by Barry Jenkins that follows Chiron, a Black gay man, at three different points in his life. Its something that as a cinematographer you are constantly aware of. Sassens work possesses a wonderful blend of color and the saturation of natural textures and hues of skin that Moonlight employs as well, to define a new idiom of beauty for black bodies in cinema. Both films use color to reflect the mood of the scene and what the characters are thinking. The film is driven by the internal conflicts of the characters, instead of a plot. Its merely a feature of the landscape, where air is humid, birds chirp, people disappear, and small bills flow in a circle. Moonlight Movie Discussion Questions | Study.com Moonlight doesn't just look and sound great. It just wakes my mind up., Photographers like Henry Roy inspired Laxton. The camera is sped up and closing in on Chiron and his friend, trapping them even further. 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. Moonlight is a masterclass in expressive camera and sound. Cinematographer James Laxton films Ashton Sanders. 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. Two faces, two connected souls. The color blue and water are the most prominent throughout. 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. From the very first shot of drug dealer Juan (played by Mahershala Ali) arriving to meet with his subordinates, we are greeted with a bright color palette that is infused with rich blues, bright yellows and tropical reds. 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. Laxton explained: In that moment, when shes very angry at her son, the pink light tips the audience to a different aspect of her, a different side to her., Laxton went to film school with Jenkins in the early aughts, at the Florida State Film School in Tallahassee, where for a time the two were roommates. Laxton had to maneuver a 200-pound camera in an underwater housing for the scene. So much is happening behind their eyes. Jenkins, 37, was raised by a single mother who became addicted to crack. This is not an example of the work written by professional essay writers. Juans calm conversation with his employee is followed by loud insults from Chirons bullies. There are these sort of lonely frames that exist, even when hes a grown man. Moonlight Cinematography James Laxton Featured on LensCulture The Photographic Inspirations Behind Moonlight, 2016's Best Picture Moonlight Cinematography A conversation with Moonlight's cinematographer reveals the surprising but formative influence that still photography had on this Oscar-winning film. At the beginning of the film, Chiron is bullied during a soccer game. The assumption is that the story will be told in a tonality that prioritizes the gritty and bleak real-ism of their world. Dark colors and harsh light is the appropriate lens, we seem to have decided, for dark circumstances and harsh realities. By continuing well assume you board with our cookie policy. Moonlight - 1319 Words | Internet Public Library Chirons mother being highlighted in neon pink lights her femininity despite her sour expression. Laxton creates pure poetry on celluloid that is perfectly equipped to conjure a story of self-discovery and acceptance. Your favorite beach reads and binge-worthy Netflix shows. Their filmmaking style developed after they met in college at Florida State University. to swim as a transcendental moment. Lets consider the sequence where Juan teaches Little to swim. Jenkins and Laxton were aware of the fact that they were dealing with stories that had previously been depicted, and sought to destabilize the tropes associated with several elements of the narrative.
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