The Florida Project

This is exactly the kind of movie I usually go for – a feel-good movie and a classic indie drama. So, based on the reception of The Florida Project, my expectations were high. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t my thing. Although I agree with the high number of positive reviews, watching it was mind-numbing for me. As a de facto documentary about stereotypical white trash, it works perfectly, but apart from the character of Willem Dafoe, there is not a single at least partially likable character that I could relate to, quite the contrary. The behavior of the central group of three screaming kids was driving me nuts, and the main character of the mother - a typical representative of the American white trash mentality "I am a total wreck, an incompetent loser, absolutely useless to society and it’s somebody else’s fault, not mine" – just plain irritated me. There might have been those who experienced some sort of a powerful catharsis after the ending, but personally, I only experienced the feeling of being pissed off. I rarely look at my watch to see how much time is left until the end - in this case, after a while, it was every 5 minutes. (01/27/2019)

The Florida Project is a film about three assholes. The first one you won't see, but her legacy is evident in the behavior of the older of the two protagonists in the film. She also had a mother who passed on her values and lifestyle to her daughter through her (lack of) upbringing, because assholes are recyclable. I would like to discuss two opinions that are often heard about this film. It is not a story about people from the bottom of American society. The inhabitants of cheap motels around Las Vegas may be far from prosperity, but they can afford regular payments for a roof over their heads and they don't go hungry. The real bottom is formed by numerous homeless people, residents of decaying urban ghettos, and reservations. A shocking percentage of Americans suffer from malnutrition, cannot afford medication, and they lack basic services. The protagonists of the film will most likely continue to actively work on their descent and will get to know the bottom of American society in old age when they can no longer sell their bodies worn out by tobacco, alcohol, and hard drugs. Their lifestyle and attitude prevent them from establishing a functional family and relying on their partners and children. Secondly: Those girls really don't feel despair and hopelessness. They enjoy life like few others. They don't worry about the future and they can be creative in getting sources and they don't even have bad sleep from their escapades. It is their surroundings that suffer. Those who have to deal with the consequences of their actions. By the way, what others perceive as the arrival of doom is actually the only spark of hope in that endless mess. Anyone who can be carried away by the tears of a six-year-old girl and not realize that if anyone is a victim, it's only her mother, doesn't have any sense. Sean Baker deserves recognition for choosing the main characters and flawless work with non-actors. The most outstanding character in the film is the deeply human figure of the hotel manager, who knows his sheep well, never succumbs to naivety, but rather acts sensitively and tries to help within his means. Willem Dafoe pulled off one of the most convincing performances of his career in this film. Overall impression: 65%. (08/04/2020)

It didn’t sit well with me how the children told the story. It felt as if I packed a camera, flew to Florida, chose the motel closest to the airport in Orlando and sat there documenting what was happening around. I understand that was the intention of the movie but it simply wasn’t interesting to me. (01/18/2019)

I was able to overlook the complete senselessness for a long time and focused on the actors. Specifically, on Brooklynn Prince, who delivers without exaggeration the best child acting performance I have ever seen. But after a while, the noisy children, noisy adults, noisy arguments, and shouted vulgarities became too much, and I quietly suffered through most of the second half. Moreover, we hardly leave the motel complex, and the viewer can sense that they will have to wait only for small joys and greater concerns. The salvation of the script is the character of Bobby, on whom, thanks to surprisingly civilian Willem Dafoe, it is visible that he wants to help his tenants, but he suspects that for some, it's just throwing pearls before swine. However, a significant drawback for me is the fact that most of the time I couldn't get rid of thoughts about what awaits Moonee in her later years and how she might end up with a similar environment and similar mother. Even a heart of gold can spoil, and despite efforts for positive moments, these thoughts made me feel miserable. Three stars solely for Brooklynn, who, with a bit of luck, could become a real treasure. (01/16/2018)

Depicting the problems and joys of ordinary Floridians from a purple apartment building/motel somewhere around Orlando, The Florida Project is a big step forward from Tangerine thanks to the fantastic perception of life through the eyes of children. It is not just about the playfulness that they bring into this portrait of the uneasy existence of socially disadvantaged adults, but above all the director’s ability to perceive the colorful poetics of the lives of two emotionally different worlds in such a precise and coordinated way. There are a lot of award-worthy performances here: the great Willem Dafoe as a thoughtful building manager, the surprising non-actress Bria Vinaite as a troubled mother, and especially little Brooklynn Prince as the lead child character! Her tears are the culmination of the film and the most powerful moment of child acting in a long while (since Shyamalan’s Osment?). The end should be seen as a metaphor – holiday-like Florida with its beautiful beaches and amusement parks is a paradise for American children. The Florida Project is a unique and beautifully made film with a big, wildly beating heart. I considered adding a fifth star. [Cannes] (05/25/2017)