Editing Techniques In Moonlights

Moonlights is a 2016 movie that explores the life of a young Gay black man growing up in Miami. He faces many challenges pertaining to his neighborhood, his school and home life with his mother. The film allows us to follow Chirons life struggles and experiences with bullies, his identity and family struggles. The main themes in this movie focus on his identity as a black man and a gay man and how he struggles living with both. Moonlight uses specific editing techniques, sound effects, color and motifs to accurately express his internal battle with acceptance and self realization.

One of the most interesting things I noticed when watching the film was the way in which Chiron adopted traits of Juan later in life. The scene at the beginning

One of the most important motifs is water and involves the use of the sound of waves throughout the movie. When the movie first starts before we even see anything we hear waves, this is also mirrored at the end of the movie. Chiron is also shown washing himself with water many times in the film and each time it represented emotional cleansing. One example is when he learns to swim with Juan at the beach. The camera is at a level where it's going just above and below the water. The sound of water is also exaggerated in the scene where Chiron takes a bath alone. The scene is mostly silent besides the sound of the water from the bath forcing people to focus on Chiron being alone and independent. Moonlight is referenced when talking about the glowing skin of Juan in the light. This is used to enhance the theme of Chiron accepting and embracing his identity as a black man. Water, waves, and the beach represent freedom. Water tends to reflect light more and I think that's why this motif is used, not to mention Juan first told him about the story while sitting at the

We see him running and we are in the same sequence of events but the scene is chopped up. We see him running and all of a sudden he's in a different area with the boys. We can understand how he got there but we only see parts of him running to the abandoned house. Along with the shaky camera work matching Chiron’s breathing, this enhanced the intensity of his situation. Editing is a great way that filmmakers can use to make a scene more interesting to watch. Match on action cuts are used in the first fight with Kevin and Chiron when they were little along with shaky camera work. The overhead angle is also used a few times in the movie to look down on Chiron. But most of the time in the car the camera is positioned behind him. I think this reinforces the idea that we are following him and his journey through life, it makes the viewer feel like they are