The movie centers around Moonee and her single mother Halley. Although Moonee is six years old, her mother can't be much older than 20. Together, they are struggling just to make ends meet while living in Magic Castle, a slum-like motel near Disney World. Moonee and her friends long to go to Disney World but are instead forced by circumstance to linger outside. Meanwhile, Halley panhandles or stays in her room smoking marijuana. As the movie goes on, Halley struggles more and more, eventually ending up offering her services online as a prostitute. Her friend Ashley finds out and no longer wants her young son to hang around Moonee and Halley for fear that he will be influenced the prostitution going on in the motel room (as well as the arson committed by the children). Halley confronts Ashley and ends up fighting her, beating her up badly in front of her young son. Ashley retaliates by reporting Halley to child services, which culminates in child services and law enforcement coming to take Moonee. Moonee and a friend run away and manage to get into Disney World. The movie ends with them finally standing in front of Cinderalla's Castle.
Moonee's world is full of drugs, poverty, petty theft, and violence. Besides the fight Halley had with her friend Ashley, there is a fight in the parking lot between several men. Halley is filming the whole thing on her cell phone and encouraging Moonee to cheer for the fighters just as one gets hit by a car. Halley also encourages the sexualization of her six year old daughter by teaching her how to twerk and take "swimsuit selfies." Halley seems to care about Moonee and does try to protect her from finding out about the prostitution that is going on in their room. Likewise, Bobby, the slumlord/motel manager, seems like an aggressive person, constantly going around getting in shouting matches with tenants and threatening them about paying rent. But when it comes down to it, he seems to genuinely care about the kids in his motel.
The Florida Project doesn't give any of its characters a pass. But it does try to humanize them and we feel empathy for these people, even if they are kind of terrible people. They are trapped in their own shortcomings and don't know any other life than the one they are living. I couldn't help but think throughout the movie that I know these characters, particularly Halley. As a public defender, I have met her many times. The names and faces are different, but the person is the same. This movie was a good reminder of why get up and go to work everyday for my clients. The Florida Project demonstrates that these people are still made in God's image and worthy of our compassion, even if they distort that same image on a daily basis.
At the end of the day, The Florida Project is not a happy story. As viewers, we are left with the uncomfortable knowledge that Moonee is very likely going to turn out just like Halley. But their tragedy is the tragedy of humanity as a whole; the rest of us is just better at putting on a better face on our sins.
Rating: 4 stars
The Florida Project has some truly good performances, particularly from Brooklyn Prince, the child actress playing Moonee, and Willem Dafoe as Bobby. The film is very beautiful. The bright colors contrast strongly with the message and content of the film in a way that is very striking. The Florida Project is not an easy watch and I wouldn't recommend it to just everyone. But it is an honest and accurate portrayal of what life is like for many people. A discerning and mature adult viewer should be able to get a lot from it.
Caveat Spectator
Plenty. A ridiculous amount of profanity, much of it from young children, is throughout the film, as well as drug use. An older woman is sunbathing topless by the pool, but has her hands basically covering herself. There is a lot of discussion about prostitution and child molesters, but nothing is really shown happening. The prostitution encounters occur off-screen while Moonee is in the bathtub listening to loud rap music. The Florida Project definitely earns its R rating.
The Florida Project doesn't give any of its characters a pass. But it does try to humanize them and we feel empathy for these people, even if they are kind of terrible people. They are trapped in their own shortcomings and don't know any other life than the one they are living. I couldn't help but think throughout the movie that I know these characters, particularly Halley. As a public defender, I have met her many times. The names and faces are different, but the person is the same. This movie was a good reminder of why get up and go to work everyday for my clients. The Florida Project demonstrates that these people are still made in God's image and worthy of our compassion, even if they distort that same image on a daily basis.
At the end of the day, The Florida Project is not a happy story. As viewers, we are left with the uncomfortable knowledge that Moonee is very likely going to turn out just like Halley. But their tragedy is the tragedy of humanity as a whole; the rest of us is just better at putting on a better face on our sins.
Rating: 4 stars
The Florida Project has some truly good performances, particularly from Brooklyn Prince, the child actress playing Moonee, and Willem Dafoe as Bobby. The film is very beautiful. The bright colors contrast strongly with the message and content of the film in a way that is very striking. The Florida Project is not an easy watch and I wouldn't recommend it to just everyone. But it is an honest and accurate portrayal of what life is like for many people. A discerning and mature adult viewer should be able to get a lot from it.
Caveat Spectator
Plenty. A ridiculous amount of profanity, much of it from young children, is throughout the film, as well as drug use. An older woman is sunbathing topless by the pool, but has her hands basically covering herself. There is a lot of discussion about prostitution and child molesters, but nothing is really shown happening. The prostitution encounters occur off-screen while Moonee is in the bathtub listening to loud rap music. The Florida Project definitely earns its R rating.
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