Movie Review: 'Moonlight'

Time Warner Cable News film critic Neil Rosen checks out the new indie film "Moonlight," which looks at a young man's struggle to find himself from childhood, through adolescence to adulthood.

A new indie film, that's getting a lot of Oscar buzz, looks at a young man's struggle to find himself. It's called Moonlight.

Divided into three distinct chapters, we first see Chiron, a young, alienated African American kid, living in a rough Miami neighborhood. His mother is a crack addict, his father figure is a local drug dealer and he has to constantly navigate being picked on by tougher, local kids.

Part two looks at Chiron in high school. He's scrawny, is still a target of bullies and it is also where he starts to explore his sexual identity.

Part three he's all grown up and buffed up, as he tries to reconnect with a male lover from his past.

It's a touching film that sensitively explores one person's search to find out who he is. Set against the backdrop of a mean streets, urban landscape and examining three defining stages in this person's life, writer/director Barry Jenkins insightfully explores the struggles of Chrion's coming of age.

In the process, he offers up an unforgettable portrait, at times, of what it's like to grow up under these impoverished circumstances. At other times, the filmmaker also utilizes universal themes, as there are some aspects to the character, no matter your background or sexual identity that most people can relate to. That's the beauty of the film.

Additionally, the expressive performances by all three actors who play Chiron are great, as is the supporting cast.