The Florida Project (2017)

The Florida Project by Sean Baker was my favorite movie of 2017, I was outraged that it received no recognition at the academy awards. My whole family loved this movie so much that we bought it on Amazon. Not rented, bought. It’s been about three years since we made that purchase, and about once a year, I watch it. Everytime I return to this film, the same emotions wash over me; curiosity, melancholy, and enchantment. 

The Florida Project is set in a motel called the Magic Castle, that resides right outside the most magical place on Earth, Disney World. The movie’s characters are ones you hardly see on screen, the marginalized community of the hidden homeless of the sunshine state. Main character Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), is an adventurous 6-year-old who lives in the motel with her struggling Mom, Halley (Bria Vinaite). Moonee and her two friends who also live at the magic castle spend their summer days going on various adventures while Bobby (Willem Dafoe), tries to protect the kids from gritty actuality that encompasses their lives in the shadow of Disney. 

I like using the word ‘magic’ to describe this movie, because of the way that Disney World is incorporated into the film. Disney World is one of the most famous and expensive tourists traps of the United States, there is a brutal sense of irony present throughout the film because Moonee is so close yet so far from the amusement park. While Disney World is a place of safety and wholesomeness, the Magic Castle motel is a place of gritty reality and dangerous people. 

Part of the magic of this film is that it’s told through the perspective of young Moonee. Children are natural optimists, they are less cautious when making character judgements and tend to see the world through rose colored glasses. Moonee and her friend’s lives are not ideal: they live at a cheap, run down, grimy motel in Kissimmee, FL, their parents make money in unstable ways, and their lack of supervision puts them in dangerous situations every day. From a viewer’s perspective, Moonee is living in a terrible situation, but to Moonee, every day is a new adventure. She has no idea the logistics of her situation which makes the The Florida Project’s portrayal of childhood innocence absolutely unforgettable. Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch’s writing is effortless and gives the film the edge of a documentary, the world that it portrayed in this movie feels incredibly tangible.

The Florida Project is a very beautiful film. The acting, set design, cinematography, and overall production of the film is wonderful. I love this movie a little bit more every time I watch it. The film’s last scenes are heartbreaking and also full of hope and admiration. I’ve never seen a film as honest as The Florida Project, there is not a single type of magic that can withdraw the torment of the real world. This movie is a triumph. Stream it on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Youtube, and Google Play. 

This video shows the stunning cinematography of the film.