Classic Film Review #17: Moonlight (2016)

Available on BBC iPlayer

Flawless in almost every respect, Moonlight is an immaculately balanced emotional gauntlet that probes the human condition and the fragility and toxicity of traditional masculinity in an unflinching manner.

Truly, the rich character development - not only of the protagonist Chiron but those that surround him – is worth viewers’ time alone, as is the quality of acting on display. James Laxton’s kaleidoscopic cinematography also lives long in the memory, along with Nicholas Britell’s atmospheric soundtrack.

More important than Moonlight's technical efficiencies is the victory it represented for diversity in mainstream cinema which, given the times we are living in now, is something to be celebrated by all. Films like this are paramount not only to the longevity of the arts but the health of the soul. Barry Jenkins’ screenplay is both empathetic and relatable and will no doubt have helped many viewers navigate their own feelings about sexuality and gender stereotypes.

Emotive cinema of this calibre should be cherished, and it’s unsurprising therefore to find that Moonlight remains every bit as impactful today as it was upon release.