THE FLORIDA PROJECT

Directing: B+
Acting: B+
Writing: B
Cinematography: B+
Editing: B

Director and co-writer Sean Baker's follow-up to the superb 2015 film Tangerine is not quite as memorable or distinctive, but it's certainly its own animal, I'll give it that. Instead of transgender sex workers in West Hollywood, the focus shifts to children living in temporary housing in Orlando.

To say these people live in the shadow of Disney World is an understatement. If it's not the dregs of Disney society here, then at the very least it's the outskirts. Maybe the slums. There's a sad irony to a place called The Futureland Inn, with a derelict marquee that reads, Stay in the future right now, amidst a place that has clearly seen better days.

That's where young Jancey (Valeria Cotto) lives with her mother and little brother, where she's met by the central child character, Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), who lives in her own pastel-painted apartment complex called The Magic Castle. She and her friend who lives one floor down, Scooty (Christopher Rivera), like to run amok and cause trouble. But they are by and large good kids, who simply lack discipline and structure.

These kids are all around six or seven years old, and they take up a lot of screen time. They are at an age too young to fully understand the nuances of acting, and I found myself wondering how much of the footage was just cut down from hours of taping the kids simply let loose. There is the telltale element of the somewhat stilted performances of child actors, but it feels more prominent in the trailer than it does in the complete film. It actually doesn't take long to get used to these kids, and contentedly go along for the ride with them.

That said, Baker sure takes his time here with emerging themes of parenting and responsibility. For quite some time after the film begins, the camera just follows the kids around, doing typical kid stuff, often amusing, and incredibly well shot in memorably kitschy locations. Eventually we discover that Moonee's mother, Halley (Bria Vinaite), is a bit of a hustler. She has no regular job, and makes money buying perfume from a wholesaler and then selling them in nicer hotel parking lots. The number of people she actually manages to convince to buy perfume from her is the one thing in this movie I found a bit implausible. But then, who knows? Florida is known for its eccentrics, I guess.

Willem Dafoe plays the building manager at the Magic Castle Motel, and he's the single famous face in this film. Dafoe is a great character actor, in spite of the severe features of his face that made him look like an old man even thirty years ago. He's unusually soft in character here, a guy who takes what the residents dish out amiably, and far more affection than irritation for the kids running around the place.

I suppose it should be noted that things get pretty sad in the end, an unauthorized cameo by Disney World itself notwithstanding. I'm not sure how many people will have the patience to get that far. Who is the audience for this movie, I wonder? Certainly lovers of thoughtful, independent film. That's not a large number. Although there is some crossover -- I would count myself among them -- most people who go to the movies or blockbuster entertainment won't have any interest in this.

For much of The Florida Project -- named for the early development name used for Disney World -- I could not quite pinpoint exactly why I was so engaged. It takes a while for a story arc to make itself clear, but these kids have a unique chemistry and charm. That underscores the tragedy of their lives, as they are brought up by parents either unwilling or unable to get their lives together. Most of the time, these kids live joyfully in the moment, blissfully unaware of the implications of their futures, the adults surrounding them walking signposts of their own possible futures.

I guess all I can say is I quite liked this movie. I can think of few other people easily convinced they would too, but I don't suppose that matters. Sean Baker is clearly a director with singular vision, and I for one truly look forward to what more he has to offer.

Willem Dafoe and Brooklynn Prince look back on an intersected life in The Florida Project.

Overall: B+