Review – The Florida Project (2017) directed by Sean Baker.
Watched on April 28th, 2020
Rating: 5/5 Stars
I never lived in Florida. My only memories of it are from old family vacations back in the day, when we’d all go down to WaterColor, typically around the 4th of July. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from those days. Those are probably some of the last memories I have of vacations and childhood “innocence and freedom,” alongside a couple family trips to Disney. After those times, my life really kinda stayed fairly local, fairly stationary. Not many vacations or explorations in my rural area of town, mainly just living the life, going to school, occasionally hanging out with friends, my new norm.
This movie brought that part of me back. It opened memories and feelings I’d forgotten about, or that I hadn’t felt in a long time. And that’s why I love this movie.
The color and pop of this movie really stands out. The bright and vibrant colors of buildings and landmarks against the sunny and clear Florida sky were perfect. It really captured everything that made my childhood experiences wonderful. And that beautiful childhood nature of curiosity, exploration, and free spirit was so prominent and really the heart of this movie. It reminded me of the best parts of childhood. And these kids were fantastic, really embodying everything about youth. The dialogue felt so real to what being a kid is like, and was truly well done.
As I was watching the film, and as more and more pieces started to click about this ultimately tragic story, I grew more and more invested and attached. It’s a film that takes itself seriously, while still maintaining a somewhat lighthearted feel to it at times, and I think that balance was executed perfectly. It’s not everyday that you mix some of these heavy subjects with the blissful lifestyle of being a kid. That’s what makes this film so great. This realistic, heavy hitting, and ultimately heartbreaking story juxtaposed with the beauty of childhood is really what brings it home. All aided by fantastic acting, excellent direction, and beautiful cinematography, making this a truly fantastic and impactful experience that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
These movies make me want to live my life more to the fullest. These times are something I don’t wanna take for granted. It’s movies like these that reminds me to enjoy life, and not just follow the path that seems to be set before me.
Check out the original view posted on Letterboxd here.
