friendship and found family

His films consistently explore unconventional family bonds and the meaning of kinship beyond blood relations, as seen in 'Shoplifters' and 'Nobody Knows'.

He crafts intimate narratives about chosen family and deep friendship across marginalized communities, most powerfully in his 'Moonlight' trilogy and 'If Beale Street Could Talk'.

Her films celebrate female friendships and emotional intimacy as central relationships, particularly in 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' and 'Girlhood'.