CS Video: Barry Jenkins and His Moonlight Cast

October 19, 2016

Barry Jenkins and his Moonlight cast discuss the three-tiered look at a young man’s life

This Friday, A24 is releasing to theaters Moonlight, the new drama from writer and director Barry Jenkins. Barry Jenkins made his feature film debut with 2008’s critically-acclaimed Medicine for Melancholy, following the lives of two black San Francisco residents over the period of 24 hours. In Moonlight, audiences are introduced to Chiron, a young Miami resident whose life unfolds in three distinct periods with different actors stepping into the role.

Based on MacArthur Fellow Tarell McCraney’s play “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,” Moonlight stars Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Andre Holland, Trevante Rhodes and, in her acting debut, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Janelle Monáe, all of whom recently joined Barry Jenkins in conversation with CS. In the player below, you can watch as the Jenkins and cast talk about what it took to bring Moonlight to the screen and why Moonlight is such a rare and important story to tell.

Moonlight offers the tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality. Anchored by intense performances and the singular vision of Barry Jenkins, Moonlight explores notions masculinity through what aims to be a sensual, intoxicating piece of cinema that strives for deep truths about the moments that define us, the people who shape us most, and the ache of love that can last a lifetime.

Also starring Alex R. Hibbert, Jaden Piner, Ashton Sanders and Jharrel Jerome, Moonlight opens in theaters this Friday, October 21.

Are you planning on checking out Moonlight? Let us know in the comments below!