'Moonlight' Q&A | Barry Jenkins

Director Barry Jenkins discussed his film 'Moonlight' after its screening during the 'Illuminating Moonlight' series at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Barry Jenkins’s three-part narrative spans the childhood, adolescence, and adulthood of a gay African-American man who survives Miami’s drug-plagued inner city, finding love in unexpected places and the possibility of change within himself. Moonlight offers a powerful sense of place and a wealth of unpredictable characters, featuring a fantastic ensemble cast including André Holland, Trevante Rhodes, Naomie Harris, and Mahershala Ali-delivering performances filled with inner conflict and aching desires that cut straight to the heart. An NYFF54 selection. An A24 release.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is devoted to supporting the art and elevating the craft of cinema. The only branch of the world-renowned arts complex Lincoln Center to shine a light on the everlasting yet evolving importance of the moving image, this nonprofit organization was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international film. Via year-round programming and discussions; its annual New York Film Festival; and its publications, including Film Comment, the U.S.’s premier magazine about films and film culture, the Film Society endeavors to make the discussion and appreciation of cinema accessible to a broader audience, as well as to ensure that it will remain an essential art form for years to come.
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[@lightuponlight6727]

Barry is a genius.... and has inspired me to become a filmmaker.... I could listen to him talk for hours...

[@superflyTv94]

Barry Jenkins is such a genius. He deserves to win Best Director and Moonlight---Best Picture.

[@taliaprice1909]

Agreed

[@djoy4ly]

I searched YT for "Filmmaker Barry Jenkins talks about Guilty Pleasures and Liberty City" and "BARRY JENKINS, INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER" and found the earlier interviews Barry referenced in this video. Good stuff!

[@jusme1721]

I notice Janelle Monae's character Teresa never touches Little or Chiron. Was that done intentionally?
I remember watching and wanting her to hug him, or at least touch him on his shoulder, or show some sort of motherly affection towards him but it never happened.
That really killed me.
I wanted it to happen so bad.
but i'm assuming that was what the audience was intended to feel...

[@EezhamDemon]

That's something I noticed as well. At first I thought it might have been Janelle's inexperience in feature acting but I thinking Barry deliberately made her do this.
I think that the Chiron at that age is so closed off that Janelle's character knows that he isn't receptive to affection, which is why Chiron stresses how thankful he is when she lets him stay over. Chiron wants her to know that he does care about her, but he can't show it physically. This lack of affection in any way is what enhances the power of his scene with Kevin at the beach.

[@MegaMajestics]

nailed it !

[@Gypsywasteland]

16:50 amazing director advice

[@shawbrothers18]

What's the spelling of the film Barry mentions at 17:00-17:30? French Film about masculinity

[@Alex-km7so]

Brandon T. “beau travail”

[@test-do1gc]

“Beau Travail” -
1999.

[@MrEberry4blkmn]

i want to know what happened happens to the character of Juan in the movie

[@Igbogadi]

He died. They talked about his funeral in the "Chiron" chapter.

[@MrEberry4blkmn]

Igbogadi I don't think so. there was past tense used but it was not directly stated he died. Barry Jenkins explains it as get gone but is just that gone. he disappears and it is jarring but never explained. as a viewer I think we infer that he died

[@Igbogadi]

Watch the movie again. He died. They had a funeral. The bullies talked about it. Chiron's mom mentioned it. He gets gone means that he got killed. In this interview, the question comes from an audience member at the 21:12 mark, "Why does Juan die off-screen?" And Barry explains why he didn't shoot Juan's death and instead left the audience wondering what happened to him. And it's because the movie is meant to be an immersive experience for the viewer!

[@MrEberry4blkmn]

Igbogadi I will watch again lol Thurs time but I just took it to be he just left disappear which is not uncommon in a play

[@Igbogadi]

Yeah, I've been watching a lot of Barry's Interviews today and inevitably someone asks him about Juan's disappearance. His answer is the same. Juan got killed because he was a drug dealer. Sometimes, they get locked up but in his case, he died. While you watch the movie again, pay attention to the scene where the bullies threaten Chiron on the street, they ask him if he's going to see Theresa and how she must be lonely since Juan's funeral. And the scene when Chiron comes home and his mom is high, she asks about Theresa, and says that she hasn't seen her since the funeral.