'The Florida Project' A Review

The Florida Project is a drama from writer/director Sean baker, his follow up to 2015's Tangerine. The film follows 6-year-old Moonee(Brooklynn Kimberly Prince), who lives in an extended stay motel outside Disney World, over the course of a summer. Moonee has adventures with her friends, good-natured confrontations with motel manager Bobby(Willem Dafoe), and helps her struggling mother Halley(Bria Vinaite) bootleg perfume.

The cast is incredibly evocative and potent, conveying an authenticity that makes the story not only feel real but achieves a level of submersion that is transportive. There is wonderful moments of delight and humor as well as stunning moments of affecting humanity. Prince and Vinaite as the nominal leads give powerful versatile performances and Dafoe gives a career high turn as the weary good-hearted manager but the entire cast does incredible work and ultimately the film is not about Moonee and her mom but about all the individuals in this community. And it is a raw look at this facet of society, joyous and heartbreaking.

The bright colors and pastels enhance the stellar cinematography which illuminates the beauty of this area and community. The production design conveys not only the reality of this time and place but shows it as Moonee must see it, childhood not as fantasy but aglow with opportunity and wonder. There is darkness and cruelty and menace but there is also boredom and laughter and profound excitement.

The most human and vital film of the year.

Don't Miss It.