Non Diegetic Sound In Moonlight

Throughout Moonlight, the use of both diegetic sound from Chiron's perspective and non-diegetic music are utilized to help create a sense of intimacy and identification with Chiron. Despite the scarce and scattered dialogue from Chiron throughout the course of the film, the audience is able to gain a well-rounded sense of his emotions and thoughts through the use of Chiron's first-person diegetic sound and the non-diegetic score, which help to place the audience inside Chiron's mind and gain an implicit rather than explicit sense of his thoughts and feelings. The lack of copious of dialogue from Chiron's character is an artistic choice that creates a greater dependence on other elements of sound to tell the story and characterize Chiron. The diegetic sound the audience experiences from Chiron's perspective helps give the audience a sense of Chiron's tendency to revert inward during stressful situations and tune the world out. Hearing the sound

Instead of through dialogue, the audience is able to get a sense of Chiron's feelings and thoughts through the music. During the train ride to the beach, a sleepy, dreamy instrumental music plays that helps give a peaceful and serene feel to the scene. In this way, without explicitly stating it, the audience is able to understand that the beach is a calm and tranquil place for Chiron. Moreover, at the beginning of the movie when Juan brings Chiron to Juan's house, the non-diegetic score that plays in the car is slow and solemn sounding, emphasizing the sense of isolation and loneliness that young Chiron is experiencing. Chiron's thoughts are never narrated directly to the audience, but rather subtle choices in other forms of sound help give an indication of what he is thinking and how he