In 1971, Disney Corporation opened an amusement park, now the most visited park on the planet, the dream of millions of children and adults, objectified joy, a place where everything is forgotten, a place where a fairy tale is created. Originally, the park was supposed to be called The Florida Project, as, in fact, the name of the film by Sean Baker – “Project Florida”.
The film is set in a small hotel with cheap rooms near Disney amusement park. There live mainly single mothers with young children, interrupted by temporary or small permanent earnings. The owner of the hotel and the only man - Bobby (Willem Defoe) - patronizes his young and adult tenants. There is something eternal, traditional and even mythological in this patronage and protection.
The main characters of this film are children. Rather, the main character of this film is childhood: a period when much is not clear, when a pack of souvenir money in the supermarket is a great reason to exclaim “I am rich!”, when girlfriends are forever, and mother’s tears are for a while.
There is a lot of pain in this film to recommend it for viewing, in it you can find, if you want, enough shortcomings in terms of cinematography, script, music, but the film as a whole is about the pain of children and dislike (Waiting Oscar at Zvyagintsev). And all this develops almost in the confined space of the hotel, so brightly painted in purple and pink - almost like in the Disney world.
The last scene with crying children who run away from us towards the Disney amusement park finishes the viewer with a sense of hopelessness and repetition of dislike and deep unhappiness.
As a result, we got a typical American festival film, a “black” of one-storey America in the purple colors of the hotel, in moderation metaphorical and leaving a bitter aftertaste. The film is not for wide distribution and not for the mass audience, but it does not claim to be.
7 out of 10
Great work - nothing superfluous, no unnecessary explanation - a concise story. Modern and smart. It’s nice to see a movie where the director treats the viewer as an equal.
We have been to America, but in places that are comfortable and comfortable. I didn’t see America like in the movie. The creepy side of freedom. It was a great movie called American Honey. In a free country, evil is free. Again, the director managed - the tension begins immediately and does not leave us again. It is not clear what to expect: who will be the villain, when will it begin? Well done. Willem Defoe twists certain nerves - with such an actor's role and such an expressive appearance you wait for him to get an axe. All the acting work is excellent and especially children's. In general, everything would be fine if not for a serious disagreement with the main idea. The director probably wants us to sympathize with the young ruthless hoodlums who, in the same style, raise their equally ruthless offspring. And isn’t the whole film built around children, so that we experienced moviegoers, cynics squeeze out a stingy tear? Then in the neighborhood with Disneyland it was necessary to emphasize a more expressive difference between the children inside and outside.
No, thank you. A sense of self-preservation suggests that you should stay away from such people. Neither in life nor in the movies do I want to do business with them. The ease of their being is unbearable.
Do you know why this is my favorite tree? Because it has fallen, but it keeps growing.
' Childhood is known as the happiest time of life. Is that always the case? No, happy childhood few.' — so wrote Trotsky in his memoirs, and about the same and says the film ' Project Florida'. This picture is beautiful in almost every way, a great work by Sean Baker. From the director ' Mandarin' I expected a little different, but I was not disappointed.
'Project Florida' is the original name given to Disney World at the project stage. And it's very good at characterizing this movie and everything that happens in it. The colors of childhood, which should be bright, bright, full of happiness, so that you always want to return to them, act only as decorations that try to close the acute social problems of children whose joys are far from ideal. Among all this rich picture, stunning work of the operator, there is garbage, devastation and poverty, hostages of which were the main characters of this film - rednecks, useless to anyone and forgotten by everyone; and only Bobby is kindly trying to fulfill the duties of a good father, and himself because he is not such and rather tries to escape from his problems and somehow justify himself.
Violence, poverty, theft and begging - this is the Disneyland of our heroes, here you need to survive and grow, trying to get at least some of the joys of childhood. Youngsters have an incredible ability to find something good and fun everywhere - whether it's some corners or abandoned houses, even in rainy moments, the footage is full of paint. All happy moments remain only a background - they run from frame to frame the huge beautiful scenery of shops and restaurants to walk to the ice cream stall where you can ask passers-by for a little change - they are not participants in that world, the world of childhood, they are deprived of it and expelled from it, they are simply hostages of the prison that is called their life.
39 Do you know why this is my favorite tree? Because it has fallen, but it continues to grow.' — the characters of this work fell, long ago, perhaps from childhood, the same as they give children, and they do not get up, but continue to grow as they have to, almost without trying to get out. Although, this is mostly the main character, Hayley, while others try to squeeze something out of the situation. Haley has long lost hope of getting out, she gets used to and believes that everyone owes her, and pushes her daughter into the same abyss, slowly sliding down the social ladder.
From the cinematic side ' Project Florida' does not lag behind the problems and plot. The magnificent picture, which has already been mentioned above, caresses the eyes with pleasant landscapes and sunny Florida. And all this splendor reflects not the happiest childhood, but still childhood, so no other way. The perspective of the plans is chic in many ways: the main strongest episodes are shown through the children, through their eyes and ears; just as, for example, expensive cars are put on the foreground while Haley drives her daughter in a cart through the intersection, which shows such an invisible closeness between the different classes, but also their detachment from each other (a constantly flickering helicopter); and somewhere in the beginning the children wander somewhere, and above them in the distance a billboard with advertising of abortion. In many ways, the editing of the film, its language, which is so beautiful in its disgust - a strikingly powerful glue of moments of showering a girl and the real work of the mother.
I’d like to single out Defoe because he’s beautiful, and it’s completely unsurprising his Oscar nomination. He was really strong in this movie.
It is a caustic social drama about a vicious circle from which many people are simply unable to get out, and some have not even seen anything else, that is, they essentially do not have the right to happiness, do not have any access to it, doomed to satisfy the hunger of childhood by what comes under their hands. A great film, a great cinematic year, which for some reason did not receive a nomination for best film, although it could take the place of one or two films from the shortlist. Perhaps the naive hope given at the end of the film turned academics away, but how else could it be for children?
Theoretically, "Project Florida" can be called a provocative film, here Sean Baker not jokingly flirts with the viewer, not leaving the latter the right to choose in the character, with whom you could be emotionally at least somehow associated. The story tells about the everyday life of several families from a disadvantaged social stratum, living near places that perhaps some visited in the past.
While some people look at the map of the amusement park and drink fresche from Florida orange, some local guests make ends meet, but not to say that this is especially upset. Therefore, it is difficult to understand the position of the director leaving the viewer in such an awkward position, are his characters the subjects of some social problem, or are they still the problem of this story?
Spitting from the second floor, prostitution, alcohol, swearing, tattoos, the desire to dirty and trash - too many attributes the director armed, as well as young characters "Project Florida", and their parents and trustees. It would seem that when instead of fireworks, such figures are already shining guardianship service, the viewer should give the last piece of sympathy to the main characters, but no, it seems that the film authors themselves are not particularly sympathetic to the “problems”, and the only one with whom I would like to talk about what is happening is my own character of this story, played by actor Willem Defoe. And at all, it seems that his hero personifies the viewer himself, he is in the midst of this cycle of problems, ugliness, hopelessness - but he can do nothing with the residents of the motel he manages.
“Project Florida” is not a stupid film, open and true, especially its authenticity can be confirmed by those who have seen America in colors other than Disneyland and New York. But still, I will not accept this social drama with the presentation that the authors of the film prepared - the main characters did not earn trust and sympathy, whether this is a test of humanity - I do not know, but if this film was aimed at a more conscious group of society in order to try to find solutions to the problems of the poor - then I am not sure whether this part of society should solve such problems, because, judging by the attempts of the main characters, I want to say - "Salvation is the work of drowning hands."
5 out of 10
It is difficult, very difficult, to describe Project Florida by relying on traditional cinematic approaches. And it is even more difficult to make a film in such a way that it can convey a very adult and at the same time very frivolous topic – childhood. The film, composed of small sketches of one summer of a girl named Mooney, forms, in fact, something important and significant, without going down into the wilds of forced sentimentality. The basic truths of everyday life of people from a low rung of the social ladder are the honesty of the narrative and the beauty of reality.
The Magic Castle Motel is a place that most people don’t even notice. Typical "viper" for former drug addicts, prostitutes and other antisocial elements is located on the way to the famous Disney World. In this hotel permanently lives a girl Mooney and her mother-torva Hayley, and their routine consists of all sorts of unpleasant things like begging. Mooney herself remains a child, regardless of circumstances, and does what children her age usually do, that is, fool around. And here comes the first cinematic feature of “Project Florida”: strictly speaking, through such a vague plot, occupying a couple of lines of annotation, it is difficult to express “Project” in words. Most of the film consists of the adventures of children from the motel, misadventures of the mother, etc. It sounds like a horribly sugary piece of cinematic trash, the creators of which like to idealize childhood and sing the fight against poverty, primarily spiritual. There is no such thing in Project Florida. Tonality, realism and correct accents on perception are the main things that make the film look and reflect. It is also interesting that the Project raises questions of modern life that are often ignored by decent society.
Mostly, Project Florida looks at the everyday life of an open, funny and creative child who is simply unlucky. Every day for little Mooney turns into some kind of adventure, but interestingly, the script never romanticizes events. Mooney is a unique child, just like any other child, and the film captures that. Both the girl and her buddies communicate, spy on the local nudist, turn out the lights in the hotel or watch the helicopter. The plot is as formless as the focus of attention of its characters, but the main thing here is that one impulsive adventure after another ends with reality.
As for Mooney’s mother, everything becomes clear from the first appearances of this not the most pleasant girl in the frame. Curiously, about half of the film the mother is shown from a child’s perspective – we know about her no more than her daughter. Again, the director’s idea is that the viewer, like little Mooney, does not know why Haley invites a strange man into the room or why the local manager comes in a bad mood.
What at first seems like some kind of inadequate cutting of scenes at some point makes sense. The same actions of the girl (buying ice cream or playing with friends) as the plot develops become more disturbing. The visual also works on this idea: the brighter the sunlight, the more visible the dilapidated buildings and the stronger the contrast of carefree summer with dark rooms with outsiders living in them. Filmed on 35 mm film, the film is filled with pastel tones, which gives the impression of a fairy tale, but, as I have already noted, the content here is far from joy.
Needless to say, “Project Florida” is strong acting, both professional artists and beginners. It’s hard to believe that the lead actors, namely the little Brooklyn Pierce and Bria Wynite, were found by the director through social media. Neither Bria nor her on-screen daughter studied acting, but how natural they look in the frame! The big name in the film is Willem Dafoe, who must have performed one of the best roles in his rich career. He also ignores bouts of “star sickness”, and the climax scene with him can deliver a powerful emotional blow.
Of course, the Florida Project can be blamed. The disadvantages include incoherence as such, and excessive enthusiasm for the stylistic approach. But I think Project Florida is too soft on some issues. Apparently, the film’s director Sean Baker panicked about identifying with his characters. Instead of creating space for the development of all characters in one form or another (see 'Gummo' Harmony Corina), the psychology of the characters in the end remains somewhat empty. Life, in my opinion, is not without meaning and there are many motives beyond the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
An incredibly realistic drama in the form of a modern look at children who grew up in poverty, but did not lose the joy of childhood, is able to touch the heart of the viewer after watching one way or another. This is due, by and large, to the climax scene, which at the same time can disembowel the soul, but also add some optimism. The kingdom of children’s fantasies has never been so real in cinema, but it should be taken into account that the tone of the narrative becomes darker as the plot of The Project develops, and the characters sooner or later have to answer for their actions. Given this remark, the ending of Project Florida is much more curious than it seems, and after its full realization and catharsis, it becomes clear that The Project refers to films that are unlikely to be refreshed in memory anytime soon. And only because, having seen the “Project Florida”, you will not forget it soon.
8 out of 10
The ordinary dimension of family life is a long story. A story about a carefree childhood, without excessive drama and emotions, intertwined with the unnoticed difficulties that occur around. The parallel between children’s friendship and adult relationship problems is clearly expressed in the second storyline as a background for children’s lives. Difficulties and quarrels occurring in front of a child are a reflection of the modern world.
A deep look at life incomplete, and on the one hand dysfunctional family, on the other hand happy without strangers and social benefits. The happiness of being close and at the same time the difficulty of it. The question of the compatibility of material poverty and spiritual wealth is fully revealed. However, important themes lie on a monotonous plot and predictable ending, saved by a good performance of actors.
The first, and very successful, acting work of Brai Winayte. Holly is an image of a dysfunctional mother - a loner drowning in financial problems that she is in no hurry to solve, frivolous and at the same time loving. Ease in acting betrays the image of the heroine a special attractiveness.
The image of the main character Mooney was quite superficially revealed, as for a film about childhood. A good performance of Brooklyn Prince, who has experience in acting, sometimes helps to regain interest in the film during the first half of the hour. An attachment to the image is formed, which subsequently gives more vivid sensations from the ending.
A family movie after a hard day’s work. An easy-to-perceive story will conquer fans not to think about the meaning. A chance to comprehend the significance of a child’s outlook on life and the consequences of adult recklessness.
It's not an art house, but something pretty close to it, it's called festival cinema. And this term implies a lot of everything, this includes both author’s films and debut or low-budget ones. Simply put, such a product the mass viewer sees extremely rarely.
Now directly on 'Florida' We are shown a hotel for the poor, its guests, interrupted by small earnings and move out when the funds run out. Of course, it is all focused on one little girl Mooney, her friends, her mother and the manager of the motel Bobby, but some of the other tenants also have a Minute of Fame & #39. Seeing the difficulties of the local community, the observer should be upset, although given the fact that the guide is a six-year-old child, this world acquires some carefree fabulousness. Brightly painted houses only emphasize this illusion. In fact, the picture is the cutest depiction of poverty I have ever seen.
I really liked Dafoe’s performance and always considered him a great actor. Although Oscar, for this role, he most likely will not see, it hurts strong competitors. His character came out in moderation sensitive, slightly irritable and precisely realistic.
Depressing number of nominations 'Project'. There is a wonderful script, high-quality camera work, and Brooklyn Prince could compete for the best female supporting role. In comparison with the pretentious tapes, clearly taken to the taste of the Academy, this one is predominantly touchy and down to earth, but does not have eminent representatives, so - a span.
So, to sum up, I like the work. There is a soul, a slight naivety and, let’s say, an optimistic realism. I can safely advise you to watch.
If you are already a little tired of the standard feature film with a whole plot and an exciting story, then please appreciate the new work of director Sean Baker, who at one time pleased many with the picture ' Mandarin'. In the film 'Project 'Florida' you will not see in visual terms a large-scale creation of epic proportions, but the semantic message about the great tragedy of the American system screams in almost every frame and throat. Simple in its essence, but terrifying story about the fate of a little girl, showing us the result of educational measures of a modern society, where in the world there is only television, delicious food and Disneyland.
From day to day, the young main character with her friends without adult supervision walk around the city, through abandoned houses and beg strangers for money for ice cream. Their whole life is reduced to one goal - a daily portion of fun and sweets. Neither education, nor their own safety, nor the desire for social equality of children does not care at all, nor do their parents. The terrible plight of most adult heroes is striking in its scale.
Almost all the events of the film develop on the territory of an apartment-type hotel, where the same people live for quite a long time. The young main character lives alone with her mother, who does not work anywhere, lives on welfare and demands that everyone respect her. From time to time, hiding behind her daughter, she is engaged in commercial activities, but the rent is enough for the side, although she will always find money for a night party with a girlfriend. She is to her daughter like the best friend with the same mindset and intelligence. Sometimes it even seemed that the young girl is smarter than many adults, but she simply did not notice, except for one kind and caring hotel manager performed by actor Willem Dafoe, who, by the way, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this film.
Immediately I want to warn you that the time of the film is almost two hours, and all this time the viewer observes the endless routine of the meaningless existence of most characters. The finale of the picture, of course, brings us to a logical conclusion and there is nothing to be surprised by, but the ending is worthy of all praise. The director skillfully showed us a turning point, revealing all the details in the life of the young heroine. The finale will definitely make even the most callous spectators feel. But I am afraid that not everyone will be able to sit until the unforgettable finale, because this movie is not for the mass audience. This film reminded me something of our picture ' White Nights of the postman Alexei Tryapitsyn' directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, where the whole film showed us the plotless story of the ordinary life of a simple postman. Just like this. It was as if the director came with his camera to the hotel and just started filming guests and guests. And, by the way, let it be known that the director actually shot a film with real guests, and in the end, with a phone in his hands, shot a mass scene without the knowledge of people and citizens walking along the street. And no one suspected that a man with a phone was filming an Oscar-winning movie.
Summing up, we can safely say that if you are a supporter of author's cinema, I wish you a pleasant viewing, other viewers better not waste time and shift their attention to something else, because this film is perfect for you, although these films I would show to everyone without exception. After all, it is not a superhero movie that will make people more human, namely, by watching such as 'Project 'Florida', mindless dummys will probably turn into living and thinking people, parents, and worthy citizens of their country.
Tragedies behind the scenes are much more than in the frame, which is rare in modern cinema. Sometimes you wonder how the main character keeps under the yoke of an increasingly deteriorating situation? And then you catch the idea that this is what happens in life. We do not see any real tragedies on the faces of our neighbors. We usually try not to put our emotions on display.
And there's love in the movie. Who knows what to do with that love? It is clear that the mother can not provide the child with a minimum decent standard of living, but who will replace the girl’s mother’s love? And which is better: a full childhood without mother’s love or a constant struggle for housing and food, but a truly loving person is nearby?
There is no naturalism, although there are plenty of reasons to turn hard scenes into the film. Many faces are simply not visible. Footage from the back or even these people are behind the scenes. Why are these people really needed? Life is full of characters who don’t need faces because they’re unworthy. Thanks to the director for that.
The latest footage is amazing. I want to cry in my voice. The girl's reaction to the situation is genuine. Very strong moment
I got to this movie by accident, because I went to a film festival, where one day they showed The Shape of Water, The Secret Dossier, Tonya vs. All and The Florida Project. I was on my way to the first 3, and I didn't expect much from Florida. And I want to say, I've never been so wrong.
The Florida project is in my head and it's not coming out. In the motel, where you never go & #39; wealthy & #39; a person lives several families consisting of mothers and their children. And all 2 hours of timekeeping show their lives. More specifically, the life of children: carefree, cheerful and touching life. Children run around a kind of city and look for ways to entertain themselves without thinking too much about the consequences. Some may say that their upbringing is at zero, but I completely disagree with this. Yes, Heilly (the mother of the main character) can not boast of a huge fortune, she is not the wife of an oligarch and can not give her child luxury. But she truly loves her daughter, spends a lot of time with her and does the best she can to make her daughter happy. And I have no tongue to call such a mother bad, because she gives her child the main thing - love. Such a character wants to empathize to a much greater extent than ' elite' mothers who do not care about the child. At the end of the film, I wanted to jump out of my chair and shout, ' DON'T DARE' (whoever watched will know what moment I'm talking about). William Defaut also played a great role: a kind but at the same time strict motel owner, who at the right time can help out, and in the right place. He was kind of replacing his father's kids. This story about a few weeks of the life of a mother and daughter really touched me.
Sorry for the confusion in the review, yet I am far from a virtuoso of a pen, and the text writes on emotions from the picture.
For me personally, this film is a masterpiece. A simple, soulful masterpiece. I recommend everyone to go to the movies and raise the box office, at least a little.
10 out of 10
P.S. How annoying I am that such films (like Tonya vs. everyone) fly past the Oscars, but the dull, academic Secret Dossier in all major nominations.
The film 'Project 'Florida'' was nominated only for the Golden Globe only for Best Supporting Actor, and did not receive that award. However, I decided to watch this film because of the high percentage of positive reviews, which is now 96%, and because of the interesting topic - childhood. I was counting on a sweet kid adventure in the neighborhood of a motel run by Bobby, played by Defoe. However, what I ended up with was just running around the motel of children, comparing themselves with whom is quite problematic.
A film with so many positive reviews has to be profound in terms of meaning. What does this movie tell us? Is childhood the best time in life? Well, well. If you have fallen hands, then you just need to watch any movie with a message in the style of ' don't give up ' - and that's it. What is it? Are there people who do not know that childhood is the best time in life? Does it make sense to talk about it?
Oh, come on, I think I overreacted. Of course, it is sometimes necessary to remind people that childhood is the starting point of human development. Although I don't quite understand when movies with this message are made with a rating of 'R'. This is like some kind of attempt to annoy an adult, say 'look! Childhood is cool, and you blew yours!' Maybe I'm wrong. A fool is one who does not doubt.
But to hell with him, thank you for sending such a clear message. The problem is with the children in this film. And I have a question: 'Did anyone empathize with these...chadam?' No, okay, I understand at the end of the movie where we have drama and everything to do, but the rest of the movie is very difficult to empathize with these kids. The thing is, these kids are acting like pains in one place. At the beginning of the film, they spit on someone else's car, then they get on another girl, then they almost cut some of them. It feels like I was watching a prequel to the series ' End of the f***ing world', honestly.
And I understand that these children are not growing up in the best conditions, so they are unbred. So it's the parents' fault. And the viewer has to empathize with them too, right? But how can I empathize with the heroine of Bria Winayte, if she gave birth to a daughter at a young age, which, as if also speaks of her badness, did not raise her normally. Even when Bobby comes and reprimands her, she does not punish her daughter (only once she says something to her, they say, it is already beyond the bounds and tra-ta-ta), although other parents of their children punish.
However, children continue to engage in nonsense, burn pillows, then something essential pillows. . . Would a healthy child burn anything? I think not. How can I feel for them if I can’t imagine myself in their place? The main character is only 6 years old, if I have not confused anything. Don’t think about it, I’m not some righteous person, I’m fine with any crazy people who are shown to us, but if you want me to empathize with them, give me one reason to do so. I definitely felt sorry for the main characters at the end. But let's move on.
The film can be divided into two equal parts. In the first hour of the movie, nothing happens. There is nothing going on that could get your attention. The kids get in the way, Bobby works in a motel, the main character's mother hangs out - that's it. It may seem interesting to some, but not to me. After the 55th minute of the film, something happens that somehow attracts the audience. The last 15 minutes is the finale, in which the drama wakes up - oh miracle! - and the film begins to evoke something similar to emotion, but the film quickly ends on a good frame and the screen goes out. Here's the movie.
I understand that some people will empathize with these heroes, and even these not-so-nice kids. However, what to do is probably not my category. You know, some people don't like Jack Sparrow. The mother and daughter in this film do not change by the end of the film, they do not come to any conclusions and do not realize anything. The fact that they are dear to each other is not considered, they already knew it, judging by the fact that they sometimes had a good time in the frame. As for Willem Defoe, he played just a good uncle. The nomination is probably well deserved, but the character is ordinary.
'Project 'Florida'' is an extremely strange film about ... childhood, probably. . . Or something else, whatever. In general, this is a film that has no outstanding qualities, except for a good colorful picture and the atmosphere of a sunny city. Whether you watch this movie or not, decide for yourself. I think it would be superfluous to say that the film did not touch a single string of my soul, although he had every chance. I, by the way, ' Gifted' liked it. I didn't go, but most people like it. Damn it, these are your vaunted paintings. Who knows what they might throw away.
The strange name hides a serene and carefree life of children at first glance, they frolic, play and dream about something, while we are shown a cruel reality that sometimes unfairly treat children and even adults can not do anything about it, because they have children on their hands, they live happily on welfare and do not suffer, living with friends in one of the best hotels near the Magic World. Still, education involves a responsibility that the main mother of the film, although living for her own pleasure, cannot resist. You know why I'm sorry? Because this is America. And even today, in a world where you do not spit, you need a pass for personal and civil freedom. What about children's freedom?
Director Shawn Baker did not break into the big screen for a long time, but after Sundance he achieved recognition, having a small budget behind him and armed with a phone shoots a story about the adventures of small residents, presents something that we wanted for probably a long time. Childhood or living reality in adulthood, as you like.
Children Mooney (Brooklyn Pierce is the best game), Jonesy and Scotty are inseparable friends, as well as small tomboys play from the store with oranges to some cafe to beg for ice cream. They’re not hyperactive, they’re just nurturing, and even if they were (especially Haley and Mooney), they’re still playing. Although there are many families containing two and three children, still parenting is difficult, difficult and sometimes to get away from problems it is important to relax yourself and live in high.
Willem Defoe gives a simple role of hotel manager Bobby. Troubles fall on him, and he cleans them up, even children have to watch through cameras, but a slight smile slips on his face at the sight of them, he tries to protect them, and eventually melts. A pleasant hero who does not lose his temper until the end of the film!
Two questions arose: how to raise a child in a closed system (in Florida) and how to live when even freedom is limited in your little wizarding world. You will learn the answer from children who have gone into a fairy tale.
In a certain Kingdom, in a certain State, in a castle made of colorful pastiles, under the supervision of a good wizard, dear children lived and were with their parents, spending their days in noisy games and joyful entertainments, not not noticing that their castle is a botched motel with a pretentious name, but is owned in it by a generous manager, that their games are on the verge of fouls, and entertainment is at the limit of danger, instead of a sweet life – poverty miraculously hidden from children’s eyes.
Sean Baker’s new film is made according to the canons of naive art, using primitive forms, combinations and unambiguous contrasts that simplify the perception of his shallow thought, where on the surface there are two worlds lying on opposite sides of the highway, deceptive signs and bright facades behind which the gray life of a commoner is hidden, somehow making ends meet.
Insignificantly pathetic is the desire of the director to play his part on the oppositions of one to another, the discrepancies of words and reality, external and internal, personal wealth and social bankruptcy, which boils down to a comparison of two faces of the same world, where someone is anointed with a dollar, and someone with this is unlucky, where some prosper and others are dazed – in short, the same song about two stripes, white and black.
The trouble is that in the film there is nothing but external contradictions: from the crowded motel, the director chose one loser, but, even with this simplification, he does not undertake to delve into its history, extract secrets or expose secrets, preferring to put pressure on pity, highlighting defenseless children who reflexively evoke sympathy - he cannot dispose of other arguments to himself.
It is difficult to resist the charm of the child, but it is not able to overshadow the absence of any serious idea, because, on a broad view, the movie is reduced to the confused adventures of a licentious slut who descended from unknown heights or never left this bottom, and the director's work is limited to the visual combination of opposites and contradictions, without delving into the general causes and details of a particular case - he is only interested in a picture with naive faces and a tattooed body that synthesizes reciprocal pity and a request to the unfortunate.
Of a number of contrasts - a good man Bobby, who is not a wizard at all, but only a condescending manager, making life easier for the inhabitants of a modern shelter, with grief in half, shortening their century, for the most part not deluding themselves about their present and future, but the problem is that the impoverished script does not leave anything behind them, and Sean Baker's attempts to expand his eyes, for example, bustlingly pitting a guilty father against his son, break down, denoting a complete and final fiasco.
What could be more beautiful and happy in a person’s life than childhood? When you are a very young child, you are not even aware of the many complexities of life, which seems absolutely carefree. Letting you just play, have fun and enjoy life. This is what the main character of this film Sean Baker six-year-old Mooney.
The events of this film revolve around the godforsaken Motel The Magic Castle and a huge number of its inhabitants, each of whom lives his own life full of victories and defeats, hopes and disappointments. Practically exposing to the creators the theme is far from the most rosy life of the lower strata of the population, whose representatives are trying with all their might to survive in these very conditions.
However, all this is demonstrated through the eyes of absolutely little Mooney, who, together with her friends and girlfriends, not only explores the motel that has already become a native, but even destroys its fun and fun for the sake of it. It perfectly reflects the many problems of modern society. Including the relationship between mother and daughter, who literally embroidered the entire narrative of the tape and most importantly – absolutely innocent eyes of the child. Not yet faced with the difficult moments of life and looking at everything with eyes full of hope and faith that everything will be fine. That all her leprosy will keep getting away with it. That her friendship with her friend will last the rest of her life. That nothing and no one in this life will separate her from her beloved mother.
The director of this tape Sean Baker shot a very vital, extremely honest and soulful film, which easily touches to the depths of the soul. Practically reflecting on the screen life exactly as it really is. Perhaps this is what gives the impression that this film is a documentary rather than a work of fiction. Thus, and evoking some analogies with the Oscar-winning “Boyhood” of the cult director Richard Linklater, but without creating the impression of some imitation.
In one of the most powerful and characteristic images in his career embodied Willem Defoe. Practically appearing on the screen as the main defender of the battered destinies of the inhabitants of his motel, ready to always come to the rescue and support in a difficult moment. It is a truly exemplary example of a man with an outstretched soul and a huge heart, which is worth looking up to. The absolute discovery for me was Bria Winite, who managed to create a very complex and deep image on the screen. In fact, having developed the image of a “ordinary ass” to a person with a difficult fate and a loving mother who is ready to do anything for the sake of her child.
The main discovery was a small Brooklyn Prince. Rarely do you meet child actors who are talented and convincing in their roles. But the creators of the film managed to find such actors, each of whom simply disappeared into his role on the screen. Naturally, led by Brooklyn Prince, who practically “steals” the entire film and the heart of the viewer with each appearance on the screen. Definitely deserving of a worthy cinematic award for his remarkable performance.
9 out of 10
The project “Florida” is not at all a feature film, but a magnificent symbiosis of real life and art of the highest standard on the screen. Creating the impression of a very vital, soulful, touching and deep work that touches to the depths of the soul and leaves an indelible mark in it. Deserving the title of the main favorite in the upcoming Oscar race.