Barry Jenkins stretches views on black masculinity in Moonlight

Representation of black masculinity in culture is often limited and director Barry Jenkins is adamant on stretching them to new heights. 

His new film Moonlight, based on a play written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, is a coming-of-age story that aims to explore ideas of masculinity and the performance of masculinity. And while the film has only been out for a week (at select theatres, with expanded screenings in Toronto starting today), its film festival showings this year have resulted in an outpouring of praise.

"I like the idea of black male masculinity, I wanted to see those things represented in flesh and blood," Jenkins says. "I wanted to see somebody go through the evolution of this process so this idea of nature versus nurture can be tested."

Moonlight opens today in Toronto at Cineplex Varsity and TIFF Bell Lightbox.

WEB EXTRA | Watch the trailer for Moonlight below.