Moonlight Discussion

 

1. Is Chiron's identity ultimately shaped by him or by others? Does his identity shift in response to others? How? How do his nicknames play into this idea?

Chiron's identity is most definitely shaped by others. I can say this with confidence as the film establishes him as a reactive person rather than a proactive person. This trait is present in each act. As a child, his identity shifts to be more timid and passive when faced with bullying, quite literally running away from his problems. His identity also shifted when talking to Kevin as a kid, as he seemed to be able to speak words, and even sentences with him, as well as play rough and show that "toughness" that Kevin was talking about. Chiron donning the nickname "Little" is befitting of the identity he assumes. Chiron as a kid is in all the sense, little. From his actual stature to his interactions with others, the words he uses are few, he presents himself as a scared and weak kid, even when meeting Juan and Teresa. His identity showed a shift when he started spending more and more time with Juan, and it seems the time spent with him influenced him in his adult life in act 3.

As a teenager, Chiron remains a pushover to his bullies and even his own abusive mother who took money from him. He continued to embody his nickname "Little" but also began to develop an identity shift with the nickname "Black." He does something he has never done before in sharing an intimate moment with Kevin, expressing an innocent kind of happiness after that happened. At the climax of act 2, we see him tackle his problem with bullying head-on, attacking his bully and being sent to a juvenile detention center, showcasing his next steps in embodying "Black". 

As an adult, we see a complete physical transformation with Chiron. He feels almost unidentifiable with how different he looks. He went from scrawny to huge and radiated a level of confidence that was completely missing in his adolescence. Here, the influence Juan had on Chiron is evident. The resemblance between the two is uncanny. Both are seen wearing durags, both sell drugs for a living and it seems Juan's advice for Chiron to become whoever he wants to be worked. Chiron claimed his time in jail acted as an opportunity to reinvent himself, which he did, albeit with some influence. However, the old Chiron dwelled within, as when faced with Kevin, he once again showed his vulnerability to him, the same way he did as a teenager and they embraced.

 

3. How does the chaptered structure of the film support or disrupt Chiron's journey as a character?

I think the chaptered structure of the film supports Chiron's journey as a character by allowing the audience key glimpses into Chiron's life. If we were to get a continuous timeline, the key moments we were intended to see would have been oversaturated by too many other moments. Had the director focused on a single chapter of Chiron's life, we would have never seen his development as a person. So, I think the intentional use of chaptered structure of the film does help because of this.

Group Discussion Question

Though we don't see these scenes play out in the film, we know that Chiron's life after his time in school is spent in a series of spaces in which hypermasculinity is highly valued. What do you think it means to be a "real" man in these spaces? 

To be a man in these hyper-masculine spaces is to be rigid, tough, and unmoving. These kind of spaces requires oneself to not be a pushover. It requires strength and fortitude. People take advantage of kindness and weakness, so it is very important to exhibit these traits. Think for example, Juan during the film. Even at the beginning he does not let anyone press him and his drug deals, not allowing any risk to come from that. As a kid, Kevin is aware at how being tough is important to not get walked all over, which is why he tells Chiron this as he noticed him getting bullied. As such, being a real man for these kinds of situations is to be tough.