“The Florida Project,” a 2017 comedy-drama film directed by Sean Baker, offers a playful yet gloomy glimpse of the lives of six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and her young, irresponsible mother, Halley (Bria Vinaite).
Through their journey living at the Magic Castle Inn and Suites in Florida, the movie captures the harsh realities of impoverished families, depicted through the innocent lens of a child.
Moonee and the other kids who live at the budget motel community, Dicky (Aiden Malik), Scooty (Christopher Rivera), and Jancey (Valeria Cotto), use hanging out as a form of escapism from their home lives. Despite residing below the poverty line, these children consistently manage to find joy and laughter, showcasing the innocence of childhood that allows them to perceive reality through rose-tinted glasses.
Most of the film follows the summer adventures of the unsupervised kids; the dialogue between the adults reveal more information about the background of Moonee and Halley.
Children are like sponges, they absorb the behaviors and vocabulary of their caregivers, which is why it is important for adults to communicate and explain things to better educate the younger generation. This is showcased throughout the film with Bobby (Willem Dafoe), the general manager of the Magic Castle, giving Halley so many chances to be a better parent before he eventually calls Florida’s child protective services (DCF) because he has sympathy for Moonee who is being neglected.
While Halley may not fit the mold of a perfect mother, her portrayal represents individuals shaped by a lack of positive upbringing, evident through her defensive mechanisms and pervasive hostility towards her surroundings.
The cinematography of “The Florida Project” visually captures how a child would picture the world with the use of vibrant colors, specifically the color purple. Purple represents authority, imagination, power and wealth. The Magic Castle being painted purple is a juxtaposition to the mundane living conditions of the motel residents who struggle to maintain a steady form of income.
Another element that enhanced the film’s realism was the sequence of Halley and Moonee selling items in various parking lots because they were real interactions with Florida residents. After filming those scenes, the production crew had to ask each person who bought something to sign a contract afterwards for consent to be used in the film.
Baker’s choice of casting first-time actors elevated the film’s sense of authenticity and originality. With the exception of the renowned actor Willem Dafoe. Brooklyn Prince, the actor who plays the protagonist Moonee, won the 2018 Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Actress for her performance.
The film has an ambiguous yet jarring ending that allows the viewers to interpret and piece together the plotline for themselves. In the last scene, there is a distinctive shift from the film’s usual medium full-shot dialogue with ambience background sounds, to a fast-paced montage tracking shot with whimsical upbeat music, but no dialogue.
Many viewers have speculated that while Moonee was running away from the DCF officers, she was hit by a car on the highway and passed away from the impact. This explains her imagination of going to Disney World with her best friend Jancey because Disney symbolizes a safe haven for children, and now Moonee rests in eternal peace.
Although Baker’s film “The Florida Project” is fictional, what the characters’ experience is the reality for many lower class citizens, the realistic and raw portrayal is what makes this a unique piece of cinema. After watching the film, viewers are left with an increased awareness of the housing-crisis and homelessness in America.
Final rating – 10/10.
