Un sogno chiamato Florida

My wife and I watched this movie at home on DVD from our public library. The writer/director mentions in the DVD extras that he is a long time fan of the old "Little Rascal" films and making this movie his focus similarly was on the kids and what they do during the summer without supervision.

Back in 1992 writer/director Robert Rodriguez as writer/director/editor gave us "El Mariachi" made for a mere $7000. This little movie has similarities, in fact some scenes were filmed using a phone, the writer/director rewrote some of the story during filming, and was the editor. Overall a fine effort, made to bring to light the plight of the near homeless, those families living in cheap motels in the Florida area near Disney World.

To me the real star is first time actress Bria Vinaite as Halley, a single mom with a daughter maybe 6 or 7. The writer says she would have had her daughter when she was perhaps only 15 and has had to figure out how to keep a roof over their heads. As probably most would do in a strictly survival mode her actions stray way off the line of good morality and her mouth is filthy as they come. She finds a variety of ways, some legal, to make money each week.

In a good role for him Willem Dafoe is Bobby, the manager of the motel. He clearly gets frustrated with the antics of the kids, and always having to remind Halley that the week's rent is due, but he also has a soft heart for all of them. He is perhaps the only father figure Halley ever had.

There is also a short scene with little kids playing and an older man approaches them. Bobby is on a tall ladder painting, quickly jumps into action and prevents what might have become an ugly situation and muscles the man away.

Much of the movie is hard to watch because we understand that, even though this is fiction, it mirrors reality very closely. This movie was made about Florida, you could probably make a similar one in every large community, including the one where I live in Texas.

This is not a happy, fun film. At all. But they don't all have to be, nor should they all be fluff.

I saw it on the last day it was on Netflix and only watched it because it was the last day. Am I glad I did? I am still trying to figure that out.

It is as uncomfortable as Disney is saccharine. Oops, I mean happy.

The unique buildings on the streets, the colors all around are shown to their Sunday best in the bleak lives of the people who live near them.

Willem Defoe is, as ever, brilliant and restrained and brings humanity to the group. I wish I could say the kids bring hope, but they do not. And the helicopter, to me, brought the humor and "in your face" moments.

Would I have paid to see this film and not been mad about it? Probably - a few days after viewing it. Would I recommend it to friends who appreciate films (versus movies)? Absolutely, but with reservations.

I am not sure if I will ever know what I truly think about this film. And, frankly, that's a good thing. It made me think. It made me uncomfortable. It made me question things.

It made me very uncomfortable in my own skin. So, yes. That's a good film.

I really liked this film, as unorthodox as it was. The first hour was uproariously funny, before becoming a deep, and poignant study of the millions of lives of Americans who are living on the fringes of society, just barely surviving day to day. There is a shocking lack of cinema devoted to this underclass, and seeing this small film, was refreshing, enlightening, and surprising, and a refreshing contrast to the plutocracy we see all around us today.

The performances were outstanding. I am not sure where Bria Vinaite has been hiding, but she was astonishing as the mom, Hailey. Her daughter and all of the other kids were great, and their interactions, behavior, dialogue and play was hysterical. Then it kind of morphed into a more serious story, that was credible, and powerful. Willem Dafoe was his usual masterful self, and played a very real, very likable guy. A tough guy with a heart of gold.

I highly recommend this film. Not for everyone. Several people walked out during the film. My presumption was that they either thought the film focused too much time on the kids, or they were living in a state of denial, like so many Americans these days, pretending that this huge underclass does not exist. Regardless, it felt like a story that needed to be told. And it was told very well. Kudos to the filmmakers.

I had the privilege to catch an early viewing of this film along with a Q&A with writer/director/editor Sean Baker. Many know him from his breakout hit Tangerine (2015); I was sucked into his world since the release of Starlet (2012). Something that he never ceases to portray is the messed up realism that is hidden within our world and the Florida Project capture this in the most purest and colorful of ways.

The story follows a ruthlessly mischievous 6-year old named Moonee who, along with a couple friends, explore, disrupt, criticize and takeover a simple hotel complex just on the outskirts of Disney World. She lives with her young, tattooed mother, who seems to have issues of her own, but seems content and manages to pay rent (almost) every week.

Taking place over the summer, these kids are free to do as they please, that is, since there parents are not too strict. And being around tourists who can't afford the Disney Resort, they can make a lot of fun out of it. From panhandling money for ice cream to turning off the electricity in the hotel, these badmouthed hoodlums do it all. One thing this film captures well is the freedom children have and how far they go to test the waters of life.

It was very easy to get lost in this film, making it completely enjoyable. I was worried about the kids being a bit over exaggerating, but they really weren't and every thing they did seemed natural and true to their character. I especially want to point out Halley, Moonee's mother, and her performance. I have never seen a character like her played so superbly and so factual. You will see as the story unfolds that she is a very complex person who, like a child, struggles to maintain complacency with the people around her.

Another element I would like to touch up on is the camera work. By far one of the best storytelling methods for a film such as this that is mostly from a child's point of view. The colours being so vibrant and wide angles that show how big the world really is. The gorilla-style as well really depicts how on-the-go they are and trivial most disruptions are.

One last thing I want to touch up on is that there is a number of great shots with a helicopter zooming away. I am unsure if it was intentional or if there was a popular helipad near by, but this was a great part of the film that was subtly used. To me it represented freedom, and escape from the world, referring to how fast it can get away.

It is not everyday you come across a film like The Florida Project and I definitely intend on seeing it again, as it is simply rewatchable. Getting a taste of authentic realism in art nowadays is one of the most beautiful gifts we can receive. Enjoy!

Beautifully humane film that at times recalls Italian Neo-Realism, at other times the child-based films that are so popular in Iran. That it was made in the USA, with a real if humble budget, seems surprising and is a testament to the commitment of the filmmakers.

Subtly going back and forth between the perspectives of the child and adult characters, the film has, at times, an almost magical realist vibe, though nothing remotely supernatural or surreal transpires. Indeed, this is a film steeped in harsh reality, but also one that captures the almost mystical sense of discovering life on the part of the children and sometimes, momentarily at least, even the adults.

On the other hand, the film also offers a very visceral sense of the stress of trying to survive amidst the scarcity of the margins of American capitalism.

The acting is incredible, all the more so given that, with the very notable exception of Willem Dafoe, the performers are all either non- actors or unknowns.