The Florida Projectoffers as unique a glimpse into the life of low-income Americans in the 21st century as only writer-directorSean Bakercould deliver. Coming off of the breakthrough success lauded onto his 2015 indie dramaTangerine,Bakerhas turned his attention from one maligned subculture to another. After following the winding lives of several transgender sex workers traversing the urban environs of Tinseltown on Christmas Eve,The Florida Projectoffers a vibrantly colored parable on the plights of those living in the shadow of commercial largesse in Orlando, Florida.
Focusing in on an unconventional assemblage of residents living out of an economy motel,The Florida Projectoffers a unique point of view from which to watch its characters, namely that of child actor and starBrooklynn Prince. Rather than seeing all the ways in which her purple colored abode are lacking,Brooklynnfrolics in a paradise of her own imagining that rivals the real world splendor of Walt Disney World.
Playing the role of her mother is untrained actor BriaVinaite, a spritely youth whose impoverished lifestyle is worn more like a badge of honor than an albatross. Rounding out the nuclear unit is celebrated Hollywood starWillem Dafoe, who plays the part of the put-upon motel manager who single-handedly protects his residents from further destitution, often to his own professional and personal detriment.
Finding Neverland
The ways in whichBrooklynn Princediscovers small delights and wonders scattered across the landscape of the larger Orlando, Florida area offers a unique representation of the various landmarks and tourist traps that might otherwise beleaguer the spirits of its older residents. Instead of seeing the gross gap of income inequality that is perversely laid bare in the difference between the residents ofDafoe‘s garish purple castle and the moneyed tourists who determinedly turn a blind eye to its suffering indigenous population,Brooklynnfinds Neverland within the same environment.
Much likeBeasts of the Southern Wilddid for the Louisiana Bayou,The Florida Projectrecasts the legacy of another American territory against the realm of myth and fantasy. Paying special attention to the many grotesqueries of Florida’s commercial real estate,Bakertoys with how viewers might otherwise approach a cinematic world that is marked by tragedy, turmoil, and violence.
Discovered through her prolific presence on the social media platform Instagram,Bria Vinaiteoffers a brief glimpse into the future thatBrooklynnis primed to inherit. Lacking any formal education,Vinaiteis a creature shaped entirely by circ*mstance in Baker‘s film. But rather than wallow in what many might see as a sorry existence,Vinaitethrives on the fringe of prim propriety.
Nevertheless,Vinaitefalls into promiscuity and indecorum time and time again throughoutThe Florida Project. Yet whenever she does so, it’s hard to come away from any of her encounters with the film’s other characters with an even an ounce of malice towards her uncouth behavior. And whenBrooklynnis finally slated to be taken away from Vinaiteby the state, the final mad dash undertaken byBrooklynnfrom her imagined wonderland to the adjacent greatest place on earth is tinged with melancholy and sorrow not for whatVinaitehas done but for what might become of her and her daughter yet.
An American Dream
Remarkably,BrooklynnandVinaitemanage to get by on their own without the help of a male presence influencing their various comings and goings. Nevertheless,Dafoefrequently steps in when residents of the surrounding world threaten to topple the precarious ecosystem represented by the film’s great purple paradise. YetDafoenever acts as a father to eitherBrooklynnorVinaite, even as many of his actions place him in the role of their reluctant protector.
Lingering around the border of his carefully maintained kingdom,Dafoenever strives to exert an overtly patriarchal authority over any of his dependents. Instead,Dafoestands at a distance from the various events that occur over the course of any single day, leaving characters likeBrooklynnandVinaiteto continue enjoying their very own version of an American dream.
Except the dream thatVinaitehas established for herself and her young child frequently bleeds into the realm of nightmare. During a particularly volatile arc of the film’s script, Neverland is lost to the surrounding harsh reality of 21st century American poverty. In the midst of a confrontation with her best friend and neighbor,Vinaitelashes out in violence against a facile domestic ideal that irrevocably begins to crumble soon thereafter.
During the film’s climactic sequence that seesBrooklynnseeking out the cold comfort of Walt Disney World just as the surreality of childhood begins to lose its hold on her imagination, there is a tenderness to the kind of tragedy that is being depicted. Instead of glossing over the less savory bits of his story,Bakerrefuses to turn a blind eye to what might actually happen to his beloved heroes, no matter how much the viewer might wish to return to Neverland and its great purple paradise.
The Florida Project: Conclusion
The Florida Projectwill likely remain in the minds of many moviegoers come time of awards season. The visual and ethical tenacity with whichBakerrepresents its world is astounding, and newcomersBrooklynn PrinceandBria Vinaiteshine right alongside Hollywood actorWillem Dafoein one of the greatest films of the year.
The paradise that is lost over the course of the film’s trim 110 minute runtime is one that many of us may remember fondly from childhood; only inThe Florida Project,the wild flights of fantasy feel even more precious and irreplaceable considering the real world that their creator will soon inherit. There is little reason to believe that a brighter tomorrow is waiting for eitherBrooklynn,Vinaite, orDafoeby the time the film’s credits begin to roll, yet the brief stay of execution represented by its cinematic return to Neverland helps alleviate the pains of what is an essential text on contemporary poverty.
Have you seenThe Florida Project? If so, do you think Sean Baker handled its subject matter with empathy and compassion?
The Florida Project saw theatrical release in the U.S. on October 6, 2017. Find international release dates here.
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.
Join now!
English Major, Film Buff, and Citizen of the World, Sean K. Cureton is a born and raised Jersey Boy. Having received a B.A. in English from Rutgers University, Sean is proud to call the Garden State his home, equidistant from both the steps that made Sylvester Stallone a household name, and the park where Harry was cordially introduced to Sally, even if he’d prefer to a stay in state due to a certain fondness for a convenience store located in Leonardo, NJ. When he’s not in the multiplex, you can follow him on Twitter, @seankcureton.
