In search of one's identity

IN Moonlight, a poignant, quietly powerful coming-of-age drama about a young boy's search for identity, there's a scene on a beach where a line is drawn - and crossed - in the sand.

It's credit to director Barry Jenkins that this pivotal moment in a movie about being poor, black and gay feels neither forced nor exploitative, merely natural - a milestone in one person's life journey.

Viewers are given several such "real" moments in the film, which takes place in an impoverished Miami suburb and is based on Tarell Alvin McCraney's play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.