Moonlight (2016)

 In Moonlight (2016) written by Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney, the theme that is conveyed throughout the film is identity. Chiron’s whole life he struggles to find who he is. Growing up he is bullied by the other boys as he doesn’t quite fit in. He is much smaller compared to the others, so he is regularly picked on and nicknamed “little”. In the scene where Chiron leaves the rest of the boys playing in the park, Kevin notices that Chiron is always picked on by the other boys and helps Chiron to stand up for himself. Kevin explains that if Chiron doesn’t stand his ground and fight back that he will always get picked on. So, Kevin wrestles with Chiron to help him believe in himself more and when they are done wrestling Kevin says, “…I knew you wasn’t soft.”, helping Chiron gain some confidence in himself.

In this scene, Kevin was just trying to help Chiron not get picked on as he either felt pity for him. Growing up it appears Chiron only has his mother to depend on so getting help from male figures is very important like Kevin as a brother/friend or learning to swim from Juan as a father figure.