Written by: Kate Friedman and Lilia Compton
On Friday, June 28th, scholars were given the opportunity to gather in the I.T. building at Murray State University and watch the 2016 film Moonlight. This queer coming-of-age drama, produced by A24, caused a riff among scholars, with one student even leaving the theater during the showing. Following the viewing, the floor was opened for discussion among staff and scholars, introducing new perspectives on the importance of the film as a whole.
Moonlight depicts the transition from childhood to adulthood from the perspective of a queer black man named Chiron Harris, while portraying how he navigates themes of drug abuse, bullying, and human connection. The videography of the film is intricate, with distinct colors playing an important role in conveying messages to the audience. Each scene brought new emotions to scholars, from shifting uncomfortably in their seats to tearing up from powerful moments. Scholar Alivia Rhodes said “It was very sad, but a beautiful type of sad,” when asked about her own emotional experience watching Moonlight.
RA Laney Evans claims that Moonlight should be watched at least twice in order to properly grasp the movie’s subtle implications. When asked her thoughts on the movie, Scholar Alyssa Pittman echoed her sentiment, adding that Moonlight reminded her that “you don’t have to be what people think you should be.” However, some scholars had less favorable perspectives of the film, such as scholar Kyeler Bakaric who said he enjoyed the structure of the film up until the end, which he felt was too abrupt. Another student, Mason Asher, proclaimed, “It should have a sequel,” to further reinforce the desire for a better resolution.
To conclude the post-screening discussion, scholars rated the film, with reviews ranging from one star to five stars. Ultimately, whether loved or critiqued, its impact on scholars was undeniable.