The trio of performances as the central character are never less than deeply immersive. The score by Nicholas Britell is among the finest of anything all year. The cinematography by James Laxton is achingly perfect for nearly every frame.

For most of the way, I was engulfed in the purity of this story. I love the film, yet there are tiny elements that hold it back from greatness. Barry Jenkins masterfully weaves certain sequences together, and then at other times there are some slightly distracting directorial decisions.

These are minor quibbles, though, and they do little to change the fact that Moonlight is the kind of movie that needs to be seen. In the current state of our country today, it should be considered an important piece of art.