the image of Black people ’ s bodies and water dissolved completely .
This was until 2016 when the release of Barry Jenkins film Moonlight reclaimed the image of Black people ’ s bodies in and with water and overturned the stereotype that Black people cannot swim . In brief , the film is set in Miami , Florida and follows a gay Black man Chiron , from childhood to adulthood and depicts the struggle and prejudices he faces because of his sexuality . Chiron finds solace through water throughout his life and can connect to his inner self - his true self when he is in and near it . Water is one of the most natural substances on Earth . According to the Bible , it was the first thing ever to exist . By associating Chiron with water , Jenkins demonstrates how homosexuality is also something that naturally occurs .
The film is split into three chapters , ' Little ', ' Chiron ' and ' Black '. The title of each chapter reflects how Chiron identifies during that particular time of his life . Chiron is taught how to swim during the films first chapter , ' Little ' (‘ Little ’ being Chiron ’ s childhood nickname ). This moment , depicted by a series of long takes , highlights Chiron ’ s connection to the water as Juan , his surrogate father figure , holds him afloat in the water and allows Chiron ' s body to move naturally with the waves . Jenkins demonstrates his natural place with the water , as this scene is one of the only moments when Chiron is entirely at ease with himself . In this scene , the camera is handheld , allowing it to move with the motion of the water , meaning waves lap over the camera ’ s lens from time to time . This technique makes the spectator feel as if they are included in the scene , which enhances the feeling that what we are observing ( a Black child learning to swim ) is entirely natural .
Throughout the scene , classical music is played and is used throughout the film to represent Chiron ’ s inner self . Much like swimming , classical music is associated with whiteness as ‘ classical music is a world in which Black people have seldom been allowed to play a leading role ’ ( Ross , 2020 ). This deliberate choice made by Jenkins subverts the audience ' s expectation of what music would be used in a film depicting life in the ' hood '. Music used in films set in the
' hood ' is typically hip-hop and rap , meaning classical music contrasts with the film ' s setting , representing how Chiron feels out of place within his surroundings ( the Take , 2017 ). The classical piece The Middle of the Worldplays uninterrupted as Chiron learns how to swim , and the dialogue is not cut from its source , meaning the scene ’ s flow feels natural and puts the spectator at ease . The classical music reaffirms how Chiron feels himself while in the water , and the unmanipulated dialogue shows how he feels at ease with Juan and in the water . Jenkins uses the swimming scene to demonstrate the bond Juan and Chiron have formed and how Juan has taken on a paternal role in Chiron ’ s childhood as in America , the responsibility for teaching the child how to swim lies with the parent .
As the scene progresses , Chiron becomes comfortable enough to navigate the water alone . He turns away from the camera and moves out towards the open sea . The sea was seen as a means for slaves to escape by Slave Traders , and swimming was a way of achieving such an escape . Chiron independently moving out to sea represents a desire for freedom and , in particular , freedom from assumptions about his sexuality , from his mother and bullies and the abuse he faces because of it .
Jenkins uses the editing technique of separating characters from their dialogue to solidify the idea that Chiron is at odds with his surroundings , especially when he is separated from both Juan and the water . Jenkins detaches characters dialogue from its original shot when Chiron feels pressured or uncomfortable , creating a surreal and awkward feeling for the viewer . Most notably , this technique is used when Chiron interacts with his mother Paula , demonstrating their disconnect from each other . For example , when a teenage Chiron runs into Paula when she is high , her dialogue and movements do not match . Through this technique , Jenkins communicates Chiron ’ s disconnect from his mother , a relationship that should be natural . No music plays over the top of this exchange , signalling how Chiron cannot express himself when around Paula .
The second scene in which water represents freedom is in Part II : Chiron , when Chiron ’ s
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