MOONLIGHT AND SCRIPT: Chiron emerges from chrysalis, Boston Globe says!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Part 4—LaLi Mohamed's dissent:
Does Barry Jenkins' widely praised feature film, Moonlight, involve a type of miserablism?

You're asking a very good question, involving a rarely used word! When he reviewed the film in the Boston Globe, Ty Burr said it doesn't.

Burr penned the passage shown below. We reproduce it for several reasons:
BURR (11/2/16): Much of “Moonlight” is terribly sad, but it would be a mistake to dismiss the film as a work of chiding urban miserabilism. The tragedies here are personal; the larger social disaster of being poor and black in the United States is mostly a distant backdrop, like the weather. (Although you can’t change the weather.)

That sadness—of not being allowed to be anything like who you are—is tempered by closely observed moments of connection. Little being taught to swim by Juan, a scene that feels as foundational to us as it does to the boy. Chiron communing with Kevin on a moonlit beach. Black at the diner counter, finally remembering who Chiron was, is, and still could be.
It would be a mistake, Burr said, to dismiss Moonlight as miserabilism. (The rarely used term can be spelled two different ways.)

To his credit, Burr was willing to say that much of Moonlight is "terribly sad." In that fleeting remark, he came closer to reporting what he saw on the screen than many upper-end colleagues.

But according to Burr, the terrible sadness of this striking film is tempered by its "moments of connection." Also, "the larger social disaster of being poor and black in the United States is mostly a distant backdrop!"

People, thank goodness for that!

Remember—we're exploring the journalism about Moonlight here, not the film itself. With that in mind, we'd have to say that this passage from Burr captures some of the problems we thought we observed with the reviews of the film.

In our view, Burr's comment about that "larger social disaster" clumsily captures one of the problems with the upper-end mainstream reviews. For now, though, ever so briefly, let's ponder miserablism.

Why did Burr say it would be a mistake to tag Moonlight that way? Perhaps because he actually thought that—or perhaps because writer/director Barry Jenkins had said that very thing less than two months before.

It happened at the Toronto Film Festival, from which Moonlight emerged as a consensus smash. According to the Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips, "Jenkins told the audience he wanted the opposite of a 'gritty, miserablist' approach" in making his film. Jenkins had been quoted elsewhere making this same declaration.

As part of a syndrome which often obtains when a film becomes a rave-by-consensus, Burr may have internalized Jenkins' claim. Phillips quoted Jenkins' remark. Burr just repeated it for him.

Similar practices can be observed all through the major reviews. As part of the Stockholm Syndrome which obtains in the case of consensus it-films, we'd say the critics tended to break their backs avoiding mention of the suffering endured by Moonlight's protagonist. Burr joined the club with his somewhat clumsy remark, in which he said that Jenkins' film submerges a certain "larger social disaster."

Let's be clear—the suffering endured by Chiron, who's 9 when Moonlight begins, isn't unique to black kids. There are white kids with crack-addicted parents too. Presumably, kids of all stripes get bullied and beaten for being "faggots," whether they're gay or not.

Sometimes, these kids end up hanging themselves, producing small moments of notice.

That said, Jenkins' film seems to be set, as it begins, in poverty-class black Miami in the 1980s. The suffering endured by Chiron is endured by a kid who's socially defined as "black."

According to Jenkins, Moonlight captures some aspects of his own low-income Miami childhood, which involved an addicted mother. But it's perfectly clear that the studio didn't want Jenkins' striking film to be seen as some species of "miserablism."

As a result, the studio issued the upbeat overview shown below. Because Moonlight is a consensus smash, the critics launched a familiar practice. They began working from script:
Moonlight

A timeless story of human connection and self-discovery,
Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. At once a vital portrait of contemporary African American life and an intensely personal and poetic meditation on identity, family, friendship, and love, Moonlight is a groundbreaking piece of cinema that reverberates with deep compassion and universal truths. Anchored by extraordinary performances from a tremendous ensemble cast, Jenkins’s staggering, singular vision is profoundly moving in its portrayal of the moments, people, and unknowable forces that shape our lives and make us who we are.
Does Moonlight "reverberate with deep compassion and universal truths?" In search of those universal truths, does it portray "the moments, people, and unknowable forces that shape our lives and make us who we are?"

Yesterday, we showed you an especially fatuous blurb, in which a critic for Variety parroted—indeed, magnified—these upbeat assertions.

In that critic's silly account, Moonlight's "message is clear: The world is richer and deeper and more complex than we ever imagined, and even its most troubled characters—just like us—are looking for love."

Moonlight's Chiron is "just like us!" Except, to be honest, he almost surely isn't.

That especially fatuous blurb is the first text a person encounters at Moonlight's official site. It's a silly account of a striking film—a film we found to be very depressing, but a film which deserves to be described in an accurate fashion.

That said, alas! Across the critical landscape, scribes stampeded to parrot the studio's portrait. This produced a series of accounts in which critics suggest the film provides something like an upbeat affirmative ending.

In our view, Burr puts this shine on the film. In his account, "you understand [in Moonlight's third and final phase] that everything up to that point has been prelude." According to Burr, the film reaches "the moment where Chiron finally emerges from the mutilated chrysalis of his life."

That strikes us as utterly fatuous. That said, other critics battled to describe the most upbeat resolution. In the New York Times, A. O. Scott cheered us up with this:
SCOTT (10/21/16): In structure and tone, "Moonlight" sets itself against the earnest, austere naturalism that has become a default setting for movies about social misery. Chiron and [his mother] certainly suffer (and inflict suffering on each other), but they are liberated from the standard indie-film arc of abjection and redemption. Mr. McCraney's play is a layered and fractured collage of voices, and while Mr. Jenkins has adjusted the shape to the linear demands of narrative filmmaking, he has retained the original's vital focus on Chiron's inner life.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a screen adaptation of a stage play that has been at once so true to the spirit of its source and so completely cinematic. Though the film, like Richard Linklater's "Boyhood," is driven more by the flow of experience than the mechanics of plot, there are plenty of twists and reversals. Chiron's friendship with a schoolmate named Kevin evolves through a dance of camaraderie and betrayal that is better witnessed than described. A significant death takes place in the interval between two of the chapters and is mentioned only in passing. Prison sentences are dealt with in the same way. Crime, violence and incarceration are facts of life, but no life can ever be the sum of such facts.
Let's be the tiniest bit unfair. In that passage, does Scott say that Chiron's suffering "is better" left undescribed?

In our view, Scot's review of Moonlight is one of the most fatuous pieces of journalism we've seen in a good long time. It made us wonder if a certain cycle has returned our upper-end liberal world to the 1950s and 1960s—to the age of "radical chic," to the era in which people like Scott urged one and all to "Take a Negro to Lunch."

We'll try to get to that tomorrow. For today, Scott, like so many others, puts a shine on the arc of the film in the passage we've posted:

Chiron is "liberated from the standard arc of abjection and redemption?" If that means that nothing resembling redemption occurs, we might be inclined to agree.

"Crime, violence and incarceration are facts of life, but no life can ever be the sum of such facts?" We'll suggest that's easy for a fellow to say if the violence and incarceration in question aren't the facts of his life.

On first viewing, we found Moonlight very depressing. Somewhat puzzled, we searched for a review which described the events we had seen on the screen.

Among the major mainstream reviews, we've found no such account. We had to journey to Canada, where we heard from Lali Mohamed, who isn't a film critic.

According to this profile, Mohamed "identifies as black, gay, and Muslim." He was born in Germany; he seems to have moved to Canada when he was seven years old.

"At 18, I started identifying publicly as gay and queer," Mohamed says.

In a discussion of Moonlight, Mohamed seemed to refer to the things we had seen on the screen. "It certainly isn't a love story," he said. "It's a story of robbed innocence, of a trepid, almost smashed adolescence, of a barren adult life."

When another participant mentioned the traits which let Chiron survive, Mohamed lodged an objection. "But did he survive?" Mohamed asked. "It was as if the depth and texture of his life was stolen."

LaLi Mohamed, please! Moonlight is a story of a barren adult life? The depth and texture of Chiron's life was stolen from him?

Why is Mohamed saying such things? But also, why didn't film critics say such things, if only in the act of describing what actually occurs on the screen?

Tomorrow, we'll try to wrap this up. Concerning our press corps' contempt for the nation's black kids, we still have a long way to go.

We'll think about a famous book which developed a theme a long time ago. Has a certain cycle perhaps returned among our upper-end liberal class? To high-ranking, erudite critics like Scott, is Moonlight's badly mistreated Chiron perhaps an "invisible man?"

Tomorrow: Invisible boy; invisible scores; visible lack of interest

15 comments:

  1. Today try and wrap this up. Visible lack of interest.

    Even the spellcasters skipped this one. Easy D.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, I am Theresa Williams After being in relationship with Anderson for years, he broke up with me, I did everything possible to bring him back but all was in vain, I wanted him back so much because of the love I have for him, I begged him with everything, I made promises but he refused. I explained my problem to my friend and she suggested that I should rather contact a spell caster that could help me cast a spell to bring him back but I am the type that never believed in spell, I had no choice than to try it, I mailed the spell caster, and he told me there was no problem that everything will be okay before three days, that my ex will return to me before three days, he cast the spell and surprisingly in the second day, it was around 4 pm. My ex called me, I was so surprised, I answered the call and all he said was that he was so sorry for everything that happened that he wanted me to return to him, that he loves me so much. I was so happy and went to him that was how we started living together happily again. Since then, I have made promise that anybody I know that have a relationship problem, I would be of help to such person by referring him or her to the only real and powerful spell caster who helped me with my own problem. email: drogunduspellcaster@gmail.com you can email him if you need his assistance in your relationship or any other Case.

      1) Love Spells
      2) Lost Love Spells
      3) Divorce Spells
      4) Marriage Spells
      5) Binding Spell.
      6) Breakup Spells
      7) Banish a past Lover
      8.) You want to be promoted in your office/ Lottery spell
      9) want to satisfy your lover
      Contact this great man if you are having any problem for a lasting solution
      through drogunduspellcaster@gmail.com

      Delete
    2. I am very happy today with my family. My name is lisa tommy living in USA, My husband left me for a good 3 years now, and i love him so much, i have been looking for a way to get him back since then. i have tried many options but he did not come back, until i met a friend that darted me to Dr.Jato a spell caster, who helped me to bring back my husband after 2 weeks. Me and my husband are living happily together today, That man is great, you can contact him via email jatolovespell@gmail.com Now i will advice any serious persons that found themselves in this kind of problem to contact him now a fast solution without stress.. He always hello, now i call him my father.contact him now he is always online email (jatolovespell@gmail.com) or contact him on his whatsapp mobile line +2348140033827.

      Delete
  2. My life is back!!! After 3 years of broken marriage, my husband left me with three kids. I felt like my life was about to end i almost committed suicide. Thanks to Doctor Ehimen who i met online as i was browsing through the internet, I came across allot of testimonies about him. Some people testified that he brought their Ex lover back, he restores womb, stop divorces, cure cancer and other sickness. I also come across one particular testimony by Sarah who lives in Finland saying how he brought back her Ex husband after 3 years of divorce. After reading all these, I decided to give it a try. I contacted him and explained my problem to him. In just 12 to 16 hours, my husband came back to me pleading and we resolved our issues and we are even happier than before. Doctor Ehimen is really gifted and i will not stop publishing about his good works. If you have any problem, contact him now for he might be the answer to your problems. Email: Doctorehimenspelltemple@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bob I've been a reader for years and admire you work very much but I have absolutely no clue what you are on about these days.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello, I am Theresa Williams After being in relationship with Anderson for years, he broke up with me, I did everything possible to bring him back but all was in vain, I wanted him back so much because of the love I have for him, I begged him with everything, I made promises but he refused. I explained my problem to my friend and she suggested that I should rather contact a spell caster that could help me cast a spell to bring him back but I am the type that never believed in spell, I had no choice than to try it, I mailed the spell caster, and he told me there was no problem that everything will be okay before three days, that my ex will return to me before three days, he cast the spell and surprisingly in the second day, it was around 4 pm. My ex called me, I was so surprised, I answered the call and all he said was that he was so sorry for everything that happened that he wanted me to return to him, that he loves me so much. I was so happy and went to him that was how we started living together happily again. Since then, I have made promise that anybody I know that have a relationship problem, I would be of help to such person by referring him or her to the only real and powerful spell caster who helped me with my own problem. email: drogunduspellcaster@gmail.com you can email him if you need his assistance in your relationship or any other Case.

    1) Love Spells
    2) Lost Love Spells
    3) Divorce Spells
    4) Marriage Spells
    5) Binding Spell.
    6) Breakup Spells
    7) Banish a past Lover
    8.) You want to be promoted in your office/ Lottery spell
    9) want to satisfy your lover
    Contact this great man if you are having any problem for a lasting solution
    through drogunduspellcaster@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Every One Out Here
    Jewel Carol, I'm from New Jersey USA. Getting back your husband after a divorce, break up. My husband and I have been through every top reason for divorce; financial struggles, bankruptcy, stressful jobs, becoming parents when we weren't ready (neither one of us would give our kids back just the amount of stress is overwhelming) we fought ALL the time over anything and everything. I threatened divorce all the time. One day after a fight I said I was done and filling. He told me he wasn't in love with me any more. After a day or two of cooling off I realized that divorce is not what I wanted. No, our marriage was not healthy but we had so much going against us an neither one of us were trying. I begged for him to forgive me and that I didn't mean it. He told me he loved me but wasn't in love with me any more. Those words hurt and I believed him. After a month or two he also backed out of the divorce and didn't want to leave me. We also saw THREE different couples counsellors who did not help us at all. (Maybe just bad luck) we still have our moments but not as bad as before. We BOTH read a book called "Love and Respect" i read a great testimony of him that he help many to fight against their divorce marriage and broken relationship so i email him straight ahead at solutionoflovespelltemple@hotmail.com and explain the fight between me and my husband, so he gave me assurance and guarantee that my husband will come back again and forgive me just 2 days after the spell. so that was how Dr. Ogbefi help me out on my divorce problem with my husband he is really good and real man of his words plz if you need any help like my, advise goes to Dr. Ogbefi at solutionoflovespelltemple@hotmail.com, call or And also Reach him on WhatsApp Number: +2349057915709 Thanks Dr. Ogbefi

    ReplyDelete

  6. Husband left me and my kids, i was passing though pains, sorrow and heart broke, going crazy but this is how i restored happiness back in my life by getting my husband back. I’m Tiffany Wilson from UK. I'm happily married to a lovely and caring husband with two kids. A very big problem occurred in my family seven months ago,between me and my husband .so terrible that he took the case to court for a divorce. he said that he never wanted to stay with me again,and that he didn't love me anymore.So he packed out of the house and made me and my children passed through severe pain. I tried all my possible means to get him back,after much begging,but all to no avail.and he confirmed it that he has made his decision,and he never wanted to see me again. So on one evening,as i was coming back from work,i met an old friend of mine who asked of my husband .So i explained every thing to him,so he told me that the only way i can get my husband back,is to visit a spell caster,because it has really worked for him too.So i never believed in spell,but i had no other choice,than to follow his advice. Then he gave me the email address of the spell caster whom he visited.{templeofjoyandprosperity@gmail.com }. So the next morning,i sent a mail to the address he gave to me,and the spell caster assured me that i will get my husband back the next day.What an amazing statement!! I never believed,so he spoke with me,and told me everything that i need to do. Then the next morning, So surprisingly, my husband who didn't call me for the past 7 months,gave me a call to inform me that he was coming back.So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and my children. Then from that day,our relationship was now stronger than how it were before,by the help of Dr Frank Ojo a spell caster. So, If you have any problem contact him, I give you 100% guarantee that he will help you, Thanks to Dr Frank Ojo for bringing back my husband ,and brought great joy to my family once again, so here his email address { templeofjoyandprosperity@gmail.com } Website address: http://lovespell2.yolasite.com, His Mobile number: +234)90- 39520524, He is a super natural Human and he is the best spell caster online contact him if you have any problem.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My mouth is full of testimonies, Am Mrs Susan Morgan. my husband left home for two years to south Africa for a tourist, where he meant this Lady and he was bewitch by the girl my husband refuse to come back home again, i cry day and night looking for who to help me, i read a news paper about a powerful spell caster called DR Ekpiku and i contacted the spell caster to help me get my lover back to me and he ask me not to worry about it that the gods we fight for me.. he told me by mid-night when all the spirit is at rest he will cast a spell to reunite my lover back to me. and he did in less than 3 days my husband came back to me and started crying that i should forgive him, i,m so happy for what this spell caster did for me and my husband..email: Ekpikuspelltemple@live.com
    (1)If you want your ex back.
    (2) if you always have bad dreams.
    (3)if You want to be promoted in your office.or if you have a place to work and you need help
    (5)If you want a child.
    (6)[You want to be rich.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My Name Lisa Ray, i want to thank Dr Madu for the spell he did for me after i lost my husband to another lady at his working place, Dr Madu cast a love spell for me and in 2 days my husband returned home to me and my kids with so much love,if you need his help!! You can contact him via email: maduutemple@gmail.com or add him on whats-app +2349038103368.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I had doubts about magic spells after purchasing many spells that never worked I actually decided to never buy a spell again. I have tried different spell casters..Some of them never answered me after I paid and were obvious scammers, some really cast a spell but for some reason it didn't work. Then I saw a video on youtube with a person who was mentioning she had results with Mama Anita. Despite the suspicions I had her site looked real so I gave spells a last try. It's probably the best decision I ever made in my life because it worked and my boyfriend came back with me After I broke up with him I spent a lot of time wishing that I could just turn the clock backwards.He helped me do just that. In fact our relationship feels like the break up never even happened. We have never been this happy or passionate, all thanks to mama anita. If you're looking for a good spell caster look no further,you can contact her straight on (magic.lovespel@reincarnate.com).or (mama.anitaspellcraft@hotmail.com).

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am very happy today with my family. My name is lisa tommy living in USA, My husband left me for a good 3 years now, and i love him so much, i have been looking for a way to get him back since then. i have tried many options but he did not come back, until i met a friend that darted me to Dr.Jato a spell caster, who helped me to bring back my husband after 2 weeks. Me and my husband are living happily together today, That man is great, you can contact him via email jatolovespell@gmail.com Now i will advice any serious persons that found themselves in this kind of problem to contact him now a fast solution without stress.. He always hello, now i call him my father.contact him now he is always online email (jatolovespell@gmail.com) or contact him on his whatsapp mobile line +2348140033827.....

    ReplyDelete
  11. Urgent effective love Spell caster to help you bring back ex lover & save your marriage fast, (drogunsnya@gmail.com) is certainly the best spell caster online and his result is 100% guarantee!..a whole lot of people are still suffering from all manner of issues of life. What is that particular thing that bothers you? Sometimes, the problem is not the problem but the problem is the inability to identify those who have the solution. I'm Chloe Elizabeth From Edinburgh United Kingdom and I like to introduce you to Dr ogunsnya a man who is come to rescue humanity from all issues of life. Ever since the day I had an encounter with him, that was the day my problem got terminated. When wisdom is blinking, it becomes a word for the wise. I would encourage you to relate whatsoever problem you are facing with Dr ogunsnya and be rest assured that with God all things would work together for your good. You can contact Dr ogunsnya via email: (drogunsnya@gmail.com) I congratulate you as you do so, indeed you are the next testifier.you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2347064365391

    ReplyDelete
  12. Urgent effective love Spell caster to help you bring back ex lover & save your marriage fast, (drogunsnya@gmail.com) is certainly the best spell caster online and his result is 100% guarantee!..a whole lot of people are still suffering from all manner of issues of life. What is that particular thing that bothers you? Sometimes, the problem is not the problem but the problem is the inability to identify those who have the solution. I'm Chloe Elizabeth From Edinburgh United Kingdom and I like to introduce you to Dr ogunsnya a man who is come to rescue humanity from all issues of life. Ever since the day I had an encounter with him, that was the day my problem got terminated. When wisdom is blinking, it becomes a word for the wise. I would encourage you to relate whatsoever problem you are facing with Dr ogunsnya and be rest assured that with God all things would work together for your good. You can contact Dr ogunsnya via email: (drogunsnya@gmail.com) I congratulate you as you do so, indeed you are the next testifier.you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2347064365391

    ReplyDelete
  13. DR EMU WHO HELP PEOPLE IN ANY TYPE OF LOTTERY NUMBERS
    It is a very hard situation when playing the lottery and never won, or keep winning low fund not up to 100 bucks, i have been a victim of such a tough life, the biggest fund i have ever won was 100 bucks, and i have been playing lottery for almost 12 years now, things suddenly change the moment i came across a secret online, a testimony of a spell caster called dr emu, who help people in any type of lottery numbers, i was not easily convinced, but i decided to give try, now i am a proud lottery winner with the help of dr emu, i won $1,000.0000.00 and i am making this known to every one out there who have been trying all day to win the lottery, believe me this is the only way to win the lottery.

    Dr Emu can also help you fix this issues

    (1)Ex back.
    (2)Herbal cure & Spiritual healing.
    (3)You want to be promoted in your office.
    (4)Pregnancy spell.
    (5)Win a court case.

    Contact him on email Emutemple@gmail.com
    What’s app +2347012841542
    Website Https://emutemple.wordpress.com/
    Facebook page Https://web.facebook.com/Emu-Temple-104891335203341

    ReplyDelete