Issa Rae and Insecure. Donald Glover and Atlanta. Ava DuVernay and Queen Sugar. Nate Parker and Birth Of A Nation. Stella Meghie and Jean of The Joneses. Tyler Perry and Madea. No matter the network, or the size of the screen, now is the time to celebrate the Black experience in all of its many layers. We can also add Barry Jenkins and Moonlight to that ever growing list of representation.
Here’s the synopsis of the story via the movie’s official site: Moonlight is 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.
According to Forbes, the movie is already a box-office hit, and scored (as of this writing) a whopping $414,740 opening weekend in four theaters, giving the A24 release a $103,675 per-location-average. And if you were one of the lucky audience members that got to see it this past weekend in New York or Los Angeles, chances are you’re already raving about the film:
Reupping cause he deserves every promotion possible: The man who shot #Moonlight. https://t.co/XZDsO2atWi
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) October 24, 2016
#Moonlight was incredible. The writing, directing and multi-dimensional acting is A1. Award season needs to show #BarryJenkins some love. pic.twitter.com/FRWCC7Ir83
— Rashad (@RashadDrakeford) October 23, 2016
It’s dope to see a movie that just makes you want to want to lock yourself in a room and write. #moonlight
— Tahir Jetter (@tahirjetter) October 16, 2016
Y’all. #Moonlight. A MUST SEE.
— Christina Coleman (@ChrissyCole) October 13, 2016
The @moonlightmov was an incredible story. I was relishing in @BandryBarry creative direction. Absolutely beautiful. #Moonlight
— María Guzmán (@mariagwrites) October 24, 2016
I will definitely see this movie again. Truly amazing and solid work. #moonlight #BarryJenkins Thank you, for this. pic.twitter.com/eYHYjoBOrr
— Stefon Bristol (@stefonbristol) October 24, 2016
Watch the trailer below as the film expands this weekend to Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and Washington D.C. and will be nationwide on November 4th.
Melissa Kimble is the Senior Social Media Manager for the EBONY brand. An advocate for Black Creatives via #blkcreatives, you can connect with her on Twitter at @Melissa_Kimble.