The Florida Project
American society is portrayed in different ways, especially in films. The Japanese audience has a fascinating way in which they view this through a rose-tinted lens of a Hollywood epic. Sean Baker’s latest film “The Florida Project” helps to present a different view of the nation. According to Baker, the film industry has its way of sugar coating and painting things in a positive manner- which may not exist in reality- while ignoring the other side. Since its release, the movie has received numerous critical acclaims as an emotional drama as well as a socially conscious film that highlights the hidden homelessness in American society. Essentially, films about poverty can be exploitative, condensing, and patronizing. In pursuit of realism, movie producers tend to focus on exploiting the subjects, placing blames on them, and exoticizing the differences in a class (Karkare ). However, “The Florida Project” reminds the audience about the desperate life of the working -class. This paper seeks to dive deeper into the movie, deriving the larger themes in the movie.
Set during the summer, the movie revolves around a precocious six-year-old girl, known as Moonee and her young mother, Halley. Moonee and her mother are living in a motel on the peripheries of Orlando, Florida. Unlike other families vacationing at Walt Disney World, Moonee spends her summer days helping her young mother to hawk reproduced products to unsuspecting tourists and causing trouble with other motel-residing children. With a burn-out cast and ragtag of characters, the film portrays the challenges poverty in the American society, limits of child’s capacity to make the best out of the broken situation, and the frustrations associated with familial irresponsibility.
The idea of The Florida Project was invented by Sean Baker who saw the need to showcase the poverty in America via juxtaposition. Therefore, the setting of the film for the major characters is demonstrating children growing up in motels which is next to an enchanting place for children known as Walt Disney World. Additionally, the director is known to be drawn to a narrative about mother-daughter relationships and female rapport. By drawing inspiration from the “Little Rascals” the primary objective of Baker is to capture the real meaning of childhood (Karkare ). The ending of the film is left open-ended to be interpreted by the viewers. As an inescapable drama, The Florida Project features a sad ending until it gets to the final scene.
The entire movie is full of irony. One of how irony is presented is through Bobby who is not related to Moonee and other children in the neighborhood but is trying to act as the father to these children. Although he has no obligation to help the children, he takes the burden of helping the children as if he was their father. Although Bobby is a good man, he ironically acts as a father to the children while most of these children have real parents. Another form of iron is shown when Halley is impoverished, she spends a substantial amount of money on items she can do without (Smith ). The acter is poor and has the desire to be financially stable, but she is a life that suggests the opposite. When it comes to Moonee, she is still a child but her mother is one of the people who treat her like an adult. Perhaps, the most significant element of irony in the movie is one of unambiguous contrast. Some miles away from Halley and the motel, which is a symbol of poverty, is the Disney World which is a symbol of great wealth. While they are too close to each, there is a significant difference in the lives lived on each side. Finally, the opening titles are also an irony. At the beginning of the film, the audiences are introduced to a colorful and vibrant motel. Nevertheless, things do not seem to be good as it is suggested in the titles. Along with the opening titles, a jovial song entitled “Celebrations” is played, but people are incredibly unhappy and poor.
Besides irony, Baker also uses some imagery to help him deliver the intended message. The first image that audiences see in Baker’s film, is a beautiful and colorful motel. Externally, it appears to be a beautiful place filled with delight and happiness. However, the motel is a symbol of poverty. Furthermore, Disney World is something that the characters of the film are desiring the most. Moonee and her friends know the place just from the outside and they tend to believe that it is a place visited only by the wealthy. Towards the end of the movie, Moonee and her friends visit their most desired place, which is the Disney World. For the children, visiting Disney World is a symbol of childhood innocence and hope. Besides, the scene that portrays children burning down a house is also powerful. The children are inside the house and yet they are burning it (Robey ). This symbolizes the innocence of the children. It is evident that the children did not enter the house to burn it, their major objective was to have fun. The director also uses the restaurant to pass a message to the audience. Once the audiences see the restaurant, they start thinking of the negative things happening inside. However, the restaurant is the place where Moonee and Halley are obtaining food. The restaurant is used to represent two major things. First, portrays Halley’s growing jealousy towards Ashley. Second, it is used to show a contrast between a woman to live a fulfilling life to her children and a woman who is content with the life she is living.
One of the major themes that are demonstrated in the film is poverty. Moonee and Halley are living in abject poverty and their lives are gradually moving downwards since the cycle of poverty does not seem to escape. Even though Halley is her own biggest enemy and she is always making things that she cannot control worse, the biggest part of her life is out of control and she is a victim of economic challenges. Halley is reluctant to work as a prostitute in a club where is working as a dancer. When she refuses to sell sex to clients she gets fired. When she tries to explain the situation to the office, they do not consider this as an extenuating event for losing her job. When her benefits are cut off, her life becomes even worse.
The sex work trap is another theme that emerges in this film. Anyone would rarely lay in a bed as a child dreaming of becoming a sex worker one day. However, women are entombed into prostitution since they have limited or no options rather engaging in what is available. Although Hailey is working as a dance in a strip club, she also expected to work as a prostitute. When she rejects the offer, she is fire and all her benefits cut off. This leaves her with no option but to accept to become a prostitute. This can be considered as a spiteful cycle that traps women into prostitution and chastises them when they reject the offer.
Another emerging theme in the movie is the loss of childhood. As it is demonstrated in the film, Moonee’s childhood is one big irony. On the one hand, she loves running with other children, exploring and dreaming of a world princess, pyxies, among other Disney characters. On the other hand, she can listen to her mother having sex with her customers while she is locked in a bathroom. The childhood of Moonee is interfered with since she exposed to adult life at an early age (Karkare ). What Moonee does not understand is that the kind of childhood she is experiencing is difficult from that of other children. She constantly finds herself loving her mother alone and wants to spend time with her only. Additionally, Moonee does not consider the foster case as a chance to live a normal childhood.
In summary, it is somehow difficult to describe The Florida Project” in a way that demonstrates its greatness without making it sound sentimental. Essentially, the film defies its plot description via its execution. The movie is used to paint a clear picture of poverty in American society. The director uses different literary devices such as symbolism and irony to convey a message to the audience. Some of the themes that emerge from the movie include poverty, prostitution, and loss of childhood.
Works Cited
Karkare, Aakash. ‘The Florida Project’ review: A moving portrait of a childhood on the margins of the American Dream. 30 March 2018. https://scroll.in/article/873791/the-florida-project-review-a-moving-portrait-of-childhood. Accessed 4 July 2020.
Robey, Tim. The Florida Project review: A Hysterically Rude, Visually Stunning Cinematic Theme Park. 9 November 2017. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/florida-project-review-hysterically-rude-visually-stunning-cinematic/. Accessed 4 July 2020.
Smith, Alyssa. ‘The Florida Project’ Looks at Life’s Hardships Through the Eyes of a Child. 9 May 2018. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2018/05/09/films/florida-project-looks-lifes-hardships-eyes-child/. Accessed 4 July 2020.