I’ve actually been looking forward to THE FLORIDA PROJECT, the next film from TANGERINE director Sean Baker, for some time now. As someone who came from a poor family, and dealt with the issues that come with extreme poverty, I am always glad to see that social class being represented in media. Furthermore, it’s always a relief when it isn’t “grief porn”, or even worse, romanticized as some sort of ideal. And THE FLORIDA PROJECT, from all accounts, is a movie that shows the humanity and warmth of the downtrodden, but also the harsh realities of such a lifestyle.
It is also said to be tour-de-force performance from the great Willem Dafoe. And, even in this short clip, you can see how he’s a hardened man who’s got a job to do…but also a man who has a heart and empathy, communicated with just glances and warm eyes. Even the other two stars – child actor Brooklynn Prince and Instagram star Bria Vinaite – hold their own in this clip against Dafoe, and apparently kill it in the film itself. I’m definitely looking forward to checking it out.
Anyway, here's the official synopsis:
arm, winning, and gloriously alive, Sean Baker’s The Florida Project is a deeply moving and unforgettably poignant look at childhood. Set on a stretch of highway just outside the imagined utopia of Disney World, The Florida Project follows six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince in a stunning breakout turn) and her rebellious mother Halley (Bria Vinai, another major discovery) over the course of a single summer. The two live week to week at “The Magic Castle,” a budget hotel managed by Bobby (a career-best Willem Dafoe), whose stern exterior hides a deep reservoir of kindness and compassion. Despite her harsh surroundings, the precocious and ebullient Moonee has no trouble making each day a celebration of life, her endless afternoons overflowing with mischief and grand adventure as she and her ragtag playmates—including Jancey, a new arrival to the area who quickly becomes Moon’s best friend—fearlessly explore the utterly unique world into which they've been thrown. Unbeknownst to Moonee, however, her delicate fantasy is supported by the toil and sacrifice of Halley, who is forced to explore increasingly dangerous possibilities in order to provide for her daughter.
Meanwhile, THE FLORIDA PROJECT opens in limited release today.