The Florida Project

The Florida Project is a 2017 Independent film that wonderfully captures the simplest joys and harsh realities of life in equal measure. It's a vivid, colorful, and emotional journey through the charm of childhood, the struggles of parenthood, and the dignity of community. Directed by the contemporary artisan Sean Baker, known for his unconventional storytelling methods, this film stretches the boundaries of cinema and pushes viewers to engage in a thought-provoking experience.

Set predominantly in a low-budget motel in Kissimmee, Florida, just off-highway from the shining fantasy of Disneyland, the film splendidly contrasts the wholesome American dream with the raw realities of those living on the sidelines. Bright colors and playful cinematography mask but never fully conceal the difficulties faced by marginalized communities teetering on the brink of homelessness.

The film stars the charismatic Brooklynn Prince as six-year-old Moonee, whose vivaciousness and undying spirit lie at the heart of The Florida Project. Moonee's hopeful and mischievous perspective provides the film with a delicate balance of innocence and reality. Alongside her is Bria Vinaite, who gives a strikingly honest performance as Moonee's young, rebellious mother Halley, struggling to make ends meet and fiercely protective of her child.

Willem Dafoe, in an effectively understated performance that garnered him an Academy Award nomination, plays Bobby, the motel manager. Bobby is both victim and shield to the motley crew of residents who, despite their efforts not to care too much, find community and relative peace in his endless tolerance.

The film does a masterful job of exploring mother-daughter relationships, friendship, and the stark divide of social-economic conditions, brushed with strokes of love, laughter, loss, and further complexities of human emotions. It’s a mirror to societal structures that fail the underclass, seen through the eyes of a wide-eyed child too young to fully understand her disadvantaged position.

Baker imbues every element of the movie with spontaneity and authenticity. There is no script in the traditional sense. The characters, just like the setting, feel painstakingly real. Location is a character unto itself here, the tacky Magic Castle motel with its lavender exterior becoming an unforgettable symbol of faded dreams, and the unkept playground of the kids represents the joy in despair. Scenes of children playing, exploring, or merely being are as engaging as they are poignant, capturing the inquisitive wonder of early years.

Cinematographer Alexis Zabe’s beautiful use of 35mm film lends the movie a dreamy texture, which suits the childlike perspective from which much of the film is viewed. The Florida Project’s strategic use of color persuades audiences into a setting that feels at once familiar and strange.

The soundtrack, a restrained score peppered with contemporary tracks, underscores both the playful innocence and darker undertones that cohabit this real-life tale. The film’s unique rhythm lies in the precarious stillness of everyday life – moments before the storm.

Baker does not use his medium to dictate or lecture. Instead, he invites audiences to engage, observe, and interpret. Characters are neither fully to blame for their conditions nor entirely faultless; this depth personalizes the larger social issues presented throughout the film.

Impressively, The Florida Project is not about 'making it'; it's about 'getting by'. It sends a subtle yet potent message to millions living on the fringe, showcasing the beauty that exists even in dire circumstances. Even after the credits roll, the film leaves a lasting imprint, compelling viewers to contemplate the untold stories of marginalized communities and the resilience it takes to exist within them.

In conclusion, The Florida Project is a daring, delightful, and at times heart-wrenching narrative that allows us to see the world through a child's innocent eyes while not shying away from the harsher realities of life. It's as mesmerizing as it is thought-provoking, a coming-of-age film with a profound difference that has earned its place as one of the finest films of this century.