The Florida Project (Baker, 2017) is an American drama film directed and written by Sean Baker. The melodramatic film is told from six-year-old Monee’s (played by Brooklynn Prince) perspective and juxtaposes the adventures she has with friends throughout the summer to the poverty she actually lives in,  with her mother struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over their heads. This film takes place in Kissimmee, Florida nearby Walt Disney World (nicknamed The Florida Project during early planning) the comparison of the different environments highlights the children’s overactive imaginations as they are able to create adventures as they make the most of their surroundings. Furthermore, the comparison between the two mocks the idea of the American Dream as the fantasy of Disney world is compared with the harsh realities of those who live in the motel.

The theme of children’s innocence is incredibly emotive throughout the film. The imaginative play Moonee and her friends partake in is example of this, they are able to transform their mundane surroundings into exciting adventures, this showcases their abilities to find joy and wonder within the difficult situations. Furthermore, this contrasts the children’s experiences with that of the adults. This can be seen most clearly in the differences between Moonee and her mother Halley. While Moonee is able to run away from her problems, Halley is faced with economic hardships, such as paying rent, and increasingly difficult responsibilities. Despite the hardships faced there is still undeniable joy throughout the film, when Halley takes Moonee and her friends for ice cream is example of this. The excitement and laughter created during this adventure captures a carefree sense of joy, further highlighting Halley’s desire to create happy memories for Moonee despite their difficult situation.

Another key theme within The Florida Project is community and connection, while everyone who lives in the motel is struggling there is still a clear sense of community, there is the shared economic hardships, meaning everyone at the motel is facing the same issues. The idea of shared hardships is increased through the interdependence of the residents, the reliance on each other for help such as looking after each other’s children or sharing resources there is a clear sense of community. This idea of shared experiences creates a sense of solidarity and understanding as they navigate life together. The supportive relationships within the film are another example of community coming together shown, as they are able to support one another in practical and emotional ways highlighting the closeness of the residents. The ability to rely on one another goes beyond the residents themselves, the motel manager, Bobby (played by Willem Dafoe) offers guidance to the residents, highlighting a genuine concern for their well-being. This showcases the importance of community in times of need.

A clear consequence of the difficult situation Halley and Moonee face is showcased through the unstable environment Moonee has grown up in. The instability of her life at the motel influences her choice to run away, this highlights the complexities faced by children living in low income settings. Moonee’s decision can further be seen as a consequence of harsh economic conditions as children in precarious positions may sometimes feel compelled to act out or seek adventure in attempt to deal with their situations. Furthermore, through Moonee’s decision to run away it reveals more about her relationship with Halley and how it is incredibly complex, Moonee’s search for freedom versus Halley’s inability to grasp the complexities of parenting leads to tension between the two, this also highlights Moonee’s desire for autonomy, the act of running away symbolises a need for independence and power in an environment she often feels powerless in.