The Florida Project isn’t just one of Sean Baker’s best films—it’s a modern indie masterpiece that has solidified itself as one of the defining movies of the 2010s. Released by A24 in 2017, it’s a stunningly poignant slice-of-life drama that immerses the audience in the sun-drenched but deeply flawed world of its characters. For me, this movie came at the perfect time, when I was just beginning to see film as more than entertainment and started engaging with it as an art form. It wasn’t just a gateway into Sean Baker’s career; it was a revelation that reshaped how I thought about storytelling on screen.
From its opening moments, where six-year-old Moonee (played by Brooklynn Prince giving one of the best child performances ever in a movie) and her friends mischievously egg cars outside their brightly painted budget motel, Baker establishes a world that’s whimsical and carefree on the surface but rooted in heartbreaking realities. Told largely through Moonee’s perspective, the film captures the boundless imagination and joy of childhood, even when set against the harsh backdrop of poverty and instability. This juxtaposition is what makes The Florida Project such a remarkable achievement—it balances lighthearted wonder with gut-wrenching truths in a way that feels both delicate and devastating.
At the center of this world is Moonee’s mother, Halley (Bria Vinaite in a raw, fearless performance). Halley is a young, defiant woman scraping by with whatever means she can, from selling stolen goods to engaging in sex work. Her life is chaotic, and her choices are questionable, but the film never judges her—it simply shows the reality of living on the margins. Moonee, having known no other life, embraces this chaos with wide-eyed acceptance, oblivious to the precariousness of their situation. Willem Dafoe’s Oscar-nominated performance as Bobby, the motel’s soft-spoken but firm manager, serves as the moral compass of the film. His moments of quiet compassion for Halley and Moonee are deeply moving and offer a glimmer of humanity in an otherwise harsh world.
What sets The Florida Project apart from so many other films about poverty is its refusal to be didactic or overtly sentimental. Sean Baker, who had already established his knack for telling intimate, character-driven stories with films like Tangerine, Prince of Broadway, and Take Out, elevates his craft here. The film never feels exploitative or preachy; instead, it invites viewers to observe and empathize. Its episodic structure captures the rhythms of life at the Magic Castle motel, where moments of joy, despair, and monotony all coexist in a vibrant, lived-in world. Baker’s ability to create such a vivid sense of place is unparalleled, and it’s one of the reasons why The Florida Project lingers so deeply in the mind.
Thematically, the movie is about survival, resilience, and the fragile bubble of childhood innocence. The final moments of the film—polarizing as they may be—are a gut punch, shattering the protective lens of Moonee’s perspective and forcing us to confront the inescapable weight of her reality. It’s a moment that solidifies the film’s status as one of the most emotionally resonant stories of the decade.
Sometimes it’s hard to articulate why a movie means so much to you, especially when it feels like you’ve internalized every frame and every line. For me, The Florida Project is that movie. It’s a film I’ve revisited countless times, and each viewing only deepens my appreciation for its craft and its empathy. While Anora may be the project that officially elevates Sean Baker into the awards-season spotlight, The Florida Project remains his magnum opus—a profound, unforgettable exploration of life on the margins, and one of the greatest films A24 has ever released.
Score: 10/10
The Florida Project (2017)
- Cast: Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe, Caleb Landry Jones, Karren Karagulian
- Director: Sean Baker
- Genre: Drama
- Runtime: 112 minutes
- Rated: R
- Release Date: October 6, 2017
More Movies Directed by Sean Baker
Sean Baker has directed the following movies:
- Take Out (2004)
- Prince of Broadway (2008)
- Starlet (2012)
- Tangerine (2015)
- The Florida Project (2017)
- Red Rocket (2021)
- Anora (2024)