- Title: U.S. gay drama 'Moonlight' praised by critics premieres at LFF
- Date: 6th October 2016
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (OCTOBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF CAST OF 'MOONLIGHT' POSING FOR PHOTOS 3, (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR, BARRY JENKINS, SAYING ABOUT POSITIVE REVIEWS: "I think it's really cool. When you make a film like this you know, or me, when I make anything, I don't expect anybody to actually see it. So, the fact the reaction's been so warm and positive I think it's great that it just means that more people might see the film and there are people who don't see themselves very often onscreen who I think need and want to see themselves and I think with all this attention now they'll hear about it. At least they'll be more likely to." JENKINS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR, BARRY JENKINS, SAYING ABOUT FILM'S SUBJECT MATTER: "You know, one I don't think we see characters like this often in the arts you know. I wouldn't say it's important as I don't like to think of it that way but when I read Tarell's (McCraney) piece it grabbed me in such a way that I thought it would be cowardly not to look at it. To be moved, or so moved by something, as someone who's a visual storyteller to not create a story out of it would have been, I think, a cowardly act. So, again, I'm happy that the movie is getting the attention it is but at first it was about doing justice to the characters." JENKINS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR, BARRY JENKINS, SAYING ABOUT DIVERSITY AT THE LFF: "Yeah, I think it's great that the festival, if it does I haven't looked at the entire lineup, has a more diverse line-up this year. You know, the only thing I say about that is film's take a long time to make. So, the fact there are so many diverse options this year means that three years ago, four years ago, five years ago, there were a lot of people who felt their stories weren't being told I think it's great that they're all being curated at the festival." CAST POSING FOR PHOTOS NAOMIE HARRIS AND JANELLE MONAE POSING FOR PHOTOS CAMERAMEN / HARRIS HARRIS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, NAOMIE HARRIS, SAYING ABOUT FILM'S POSITIVE REVIEWS: "I am so excited that this film is getting all the buzz that it is getting because it well and truly deserves it. It's a beautiful film. It's amazingly directed. The cast is fantastic and also more importantly it sheds light on a section of society that doesn't normally get light shed on it and that's really important. And it has universal themes about humanity, about our universal search for love and also it's representing the gay community in a way that I don't think they generally are represented. So, it's a very important movie." VARIOUS OF HARRIS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, NAOMIE HARRIS, SAYING ABOUT IMPORTANCE OF MAKING THE FILM: "I think that's incredibly important because it's so rarely portrayed. And so it's always important to shed light on areas which haven't had light shed on them because it helps people who are black and gay to see themselves represented and that's what's beautiful about the film it makes people feel not alone. It makes people feel accepted and part of society as they should do." ACTOR, TREVANTE RHODES, POSING FOR PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, TREVANTE RHODES, SAYING ABOUT FILM'S POSITIVE REVIEWS: "It's overwhelming. It's overwhelming. It's great people actually go out to see the film. I hope people go and see it with open hearts, open eyes, I'm happy that more people see it the way it is so people go and receive it." CAST POSING FOR PHOTOS ACTOR, ANDRE HOLLAND, ADJUSTS RHODES' COLLAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, TREVANTE RHODES, SAYING ABOUT FILM'S SUBJECT MATTER: "It's super important because it's almost taboo to be a black American man who is homosexual, or a black man who is homosexual because growing up you're told that you have to be that much more imposing, that much bigger, that much better, that much faster, stronger than your counterparts in order to see and it's kind of oxymoronic to be homosexual and have those same attributes. So, it's so important and I'm so happy, like I said, that people are receiving the way they are." VARIOUS OF MONAE POSING FOR PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, JANELLE MONAE, SAYING ABOUT POSITIVE REVIEWS: "Oh, when I read the script I cried. I was immediately moved. I'm so happy that people are talking and I pray that their hearts are moved just as much as mine are. I pray that the moviegoers when they go see it that they feel more empathetic towards the black, poor gay male experience and that we continue not to ostracise those who are different from us and may we not keep discriminating against the LGBT community." HOLLAND POSING FOR PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, ANDRE HOLLAND, SAYING ABOUT POSITIVE REVIEWS: "Wow, man, it's been incredible. I think when we were making the movie I think we just...it felt like a very small movie. We all knew it was really good. We all knew that it had potential but I don't think any of us anticipated that it would get this response." HOLLAND SPEAKING TO REPORTER
- Embargoed: 21st October 2016 22:02
- Keywords: London film festival movie Moonlight gay race black drama
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK / UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK / UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Film
- Reuters ID: LVA00252VDMX9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Director and writer Barry Jenkins has brought his movie 'Moonlight' about a gay African-American man coming to terms with his sexuality to the London Film Festival on Thursday (October 6).
The movie, which has received strong reviews from critics after an earlier showing at the Toronto Film Festival, follows a young black man, Chiron, in Miami during his childhood, teen years and early adulthood.
'Moonlight', which is based on Tarell McCraney's play 'Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue', shows Chiron bullied by fellow youngsters and growing-up with a troubled, drug-addicted mother.
He is eventually taken in by a couple who look to take care of him whilst Chiron himself adapts to the tough world around him by developing a more hardened persona.
"I think it's really cool. When you make a film like this you know, or me, when I make anything, I don't expect anybody to actually see it. So, the fact the reaction's been so warm and positive I think it's great that it just means that more people might see the film and there are people who don't see themselves very often onscreen who I think need and want to see themselves and I think with all this attention now they'll hear about it. At least they'll be more likely to," said Jenkins, reacting to the film's positive reviews.
Naomie Harris plays Chiron's mother and she was also pleased to see the film receiving strong reviews.
"I am so excited that this film is getting all the buzz that it is getting because it well and truly deserves it. It's a beautiful film. It's amazingly directed. The cast is fantastic and also more importantly it sheds light on a section of society that doesn't normally get light shed on it and that's really important. And it has universal themes about humanity, about our universal search for love and also it's representing the gay community in a way that I don't think they generally are represented. So, it's a very important movie," she said.
Trevante Rhodes, who plays Chiron, also gave his thoughts on the movie's reviews.
"It's overwhelming. It's overwhelming. It's great people actually go out to see the film. I hope people go and see it with open hearts, open eyes, I'm happy that more people see it the way it is so people go and receive it," he said.
Rhodes also added the film was important due its willingness to portray a 'taboo' subject.
"It's super important because it's almost taboo to be a black American man who is homosexual, or a black man who is homosexual because growing up you're told that you have to be that much more imposing, that much bigger, that much better, that much faster, stronger than your counterparts in order to see and it's kind of oxymoronic to be homosexual and have those same attributes. So, it's so important and I'm so happy, like I said, that people are receiving the way they are," said Rhodes.
'Moonlight' is due out in UK cinemas from October 6. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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