The environment in which you grow up as a child feels normal to you. It doesn’t matter in which situation you grow up, whether good or extremely bad, to you that’s the way the world is. It’s your world in which you find joy with the people around you, even if it might not be the safest or cleanest place. That’s also the case for six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), who lives in a bright purple motel together with her single mom Halley (Bria Vinaite), very close to Disneyland. Like many other families who live there, they have to make ends meet in order to be able to pay the rent at the end of the month. To Moonee the motel is her playground, where she does the naughty things children do together and sometimes gets into trouble for it.
Director Sean Baker previously made the feature film Tangerine (entirely made on an iPhone). That movie, about two prostitutes looking for their pimp on christmas eve, used non-actors to tell a very human story. Baker makes the same choice here as well. This is Bria Vinaite’s first role and she really impresses. Her acting feels really natural, making you believe she’s a single mother who is willing to do anything to earn money and take care of her daughter. In reality that might not make her the best mother and she is negligent, but it allows her daughter to have various adventures with her friends.
If you are someone who needs structure in their films, then The Florida Project might not be for you (which I also noticed during the screening as various people left before it ended), as there isn’t much plot. You witness what happens in and around the motel, which is run by Bobby (Willem Dafoe). A man who doesn’t only need to make sure that everyone pays, but is also the person who maintains the place and even keeps an eye on the children. Just like American Honey did, Baker also shows a side of America you don’t see often, where there is a huge contrast between the poor people shown here against the dreamy atmosphere of Disneyland and its daily firework displays. A big part of the movie consists of the camera following what the kids are doing and that regularly means that the viewer is gasping for air, hoping nothing bad happens to them. All the situations they end up in are interesting and keep you watching. It makes for a fascinating drama.
[score8]
Love this review! I completely lost myself in these kid’s lives, and absolutely loved the movie 🙂
Thanks Allie! It all felt very natural…amazing kids!
Great review. I liked this movie, but I didn’t love it. I just wanted something a little more than a generic slice of life, you know? I saw this at the New Orleans film festival, and people actually walked out…which surprised me…I didn’t think it was THAT bad!