suppliedThe Florida Project
Directed by: Sean Baker
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, and Bria Vinaite
Premiered: October 3, 2017 (Edmonton International Film Festival)
Growing up is one of the hardest processes for the human being; every child wants to be an adult and every adult wants to be a child. However in the case of The Florida Project, the latest film by the dauntless director Sean Baker (Tangerine), that’s not the case. Instead of just portraying the ups and downs of a little girl who lives in a mess, it shows us that although life can be cruel, childhood is still one of the most joyful phases in a person’s life.
The Florida Project follows the story of Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), a six-year-old girl who lives with her mother (Bria Vinaite) in a trashy motel in Florida, a state well known for having an iconic tourist attraction: Disney World. Surrounded by two little friends, Moonee and her playmates become the cutest nightmare for Bobby (Willem Dafoe), the motel manager, and the other guests.
Innocent, pure, and sweet are probably the best adjectives that describe the essence of this indie flick. It carries the meaning of how a kid, no matter what’s going on around them, sees the world without any kind of negativity or distortion. The pureness of childhood is well-developed in a strong screenplay written by Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch, achieving the perfect balance of a happy and sad story.
Adding more innocence, the performance of amateur actress Brooklynn Prince fits best to make the story look like a realistic drama. Her character is a scene-stealer who will move spectators’ feelings: you either want to laugh or cry or do both at the same time. Willem Dafoe also delivers a splendid portrayal of the type of guy that everyone in their childhood would love but would also be scared of. As of now, he’s one of the strongest contenders to earn an Oscar nomination for his supporting role.
The cinematography plays an important role in this film: the documentary-style shots and the use of pastel colors create an atmosphere of happiness, one of the main reactions that the audience would feel after the movie; but this wouldn’t be an engaging film without the fascinating work by its director, Sean Baker. He manages to turn a simple plot into a beautiful fable. The fact that he directed it, wrote it, produced it, and even edited the film is enough reason to believe that he loved this story and that the spectator will experience his personal vision of childhood, adulthood, and life itself.
The Florida Project shares a lot of similarities with the awarded film Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012): a little girl as the main character, a plot mixed with sadness and happiness, and an extreme innocence that would make this film a hard-to-forget viewing experience.
