The Florida Project

In the hidden shadows of Walt Disney World Florida, lies The Magic Castle — a 38 dollars a night motel. Its residents are single mothers, foul-mouthed kids, and families struggling to make ends meet. The Florida Project tells the tale of those living under the shadow of the castle’s grandiose towers, the perfect embodiment of fantasy and privilege. In this clouded corner of the world, there are those who live in a constant state of homelessness, who lead a life without the comfort of stability. Director Sean Baker balances a paradoxical atmosphere of disenchantment and magic perfectly in The Florida Project.

In Baker’s magic castle, the hardships of adult life are the fuzzy backdrop whereas the children’s imagination is as clear as day under the Florida sun. The magic in The Florida Project owes much to Baker’s refusal to victimise its subjects and his ability to be empathetic without being overly sentimental. While adults hardships provide a blank canvas, the children’s uncensored curiosity and wonderment are the vibrant splashes of paint splattered all over, providing the film with a perfect flow of vitality.

Soaked in sunlight and coated in candy colour, the film captures the ebb and flow of impoverished lives through the eyes of children. The purple hues and creamy pops of colour sing beautifully. Baker’s distinctive visual style lends the film a dreamy quality. The cinematography is so stunning you want to savor every moment of this visual richness.

Baker casts the final spell in The Florida Project with a possibly imagined ending where two children finally make it to the promised land. It’s a bittersweet ending whether you choose to believe in it or not. There are still many unanswered questions as Baker’s slice of life film comes to an end. With this finale, Baker suggests that the only way to have a happy ending, to believe in magic, is to embrace the innocent joy of a child. Yet, we can only turn to our childhood for escapism for so long, the painful reality of those living at the Magic Castle is still very much real to the adult within us.

(Originally posted on 11 Feb 2018 @projectunwrapped)