Moonlight : Time Periods of the 3 Acts

Time Periods of the 3 Acts

I just watched for the second time and feel like I have a solid handle on the different time periods based on the way characters dress, cars, technology, etc. but am interested in hearing the thoughts of others:
Act I
c.1998-1999 ("Little" is 8/9 years old)

Act II
c. 2006-2007 (Chiron is 16/17 years old)

Act III
c. 2015-2016 ("Black" is 25-26 years old)

Does this seem about right?

Re: Time Periods of the 3 Acts

Check it:
http://www.npr.org/2016/10/18/498358778/moonlight-coming-of-age-in-miami-during-the-war-on-drugs-era
It starts in the 1980s, and ends in late 1990s up to mid-2000s. Please note that in the third act Black (Chiron) is using a Flip Cell Phone.

Re: Time Periods of the 3 Acts

I had read that too but was really thrown by several things. As well made as this film was, I really don't feel like there would have been so many glaring anachronisms if the film was supposed to take place in the late 80s through early 2000s.

Just a few examples:

The CDs on Juan's visor consist almost entirely of 90s rap. A Wu Tang Clan CD is clearly visible and possibly Tupac also.

Several mid-late 90s vehicles are seen in the first act, most notably a Tahoe that is parked nearby in both scenes that feature Juan's corner boy.

The Under Armour shoes that the woman on the train platform is wearing- They are definitely a late 2000s design and the company did not exist in the early-mid 90s.

The police car that Chiron is loaded into is a late 90s early 2000s model.

"Black's" wardrobe choice when he goes to the restaurant. The fit of his shirt and pants are clearly more in line with current fashion than the mid 2000s.

There are definitely more, but those are the ones that immediately jump to mind.

Re: Time Periods of the 3 Acts

Re: Time Periods of the 3 Acts

In the third act he is using a smart phone. You see it ringing when his mother calls.

The flip phone was Juans in the first act. You see it resting on he wallet in his final scene.

Re: Time Periods of the 3 Acts

Above what everyone else said, the third act also has a memorable use of a chopped and screwed version of Classic Man, which was released in 2015. Again, it contributes so much to the scene, I don't think it was accidental.

Re: Time Periods of the 3 Acts


Please note that in the third act Black (Chiron) is using a Flip Cell Phone.

I got a brand new flip cell phone just a few months ago. Did you think they don't exist anymore?

Re: Time Periods of the 3 Acts


Please note that in the third act Black (Chiron) is using a Flip Cell Phone.

I assumed that he was deliberately using that phone as a disposable "burner" phone because conducted illegal business on it. I figured he had to buy and then destroy a lot of phones in his line of work.
Top