Problem
After watching The Florida Project (2017) Movie
I. According to Brian Tallerico, on the Roger Ebert website, "It's hard to describe "The Florida Project" in a way that conveys its greatness without making it sound maudlin and sentimental. It is one of those films that defies its plot description through its execution. It is a film of small notes that combine to form something major, the kind of movie that sneaks up on you and sticks with you. Like last year's Best Picture winner, "Moonlight," it achieves much of its brilliance through specificity. It is an all-too-common story of a single mother and her daughter on the edge of the social ladder, but it is told in a way that embraces its details instead of trying to achieve some sort of universal statement. Co-writer/director Sean Baker very carefully conveys the specific truths of his characters' daily lives and it's that honesty that makes "The Florida Project" so powerful. This is a remarkable film, one of the best of the year." Do you agree or disagree with this? Explain why, using concrete detail (scene analysis) from the movie to illustrate your answer.
II. The Florida Project was nominated for and won a number of awards at film festivals around the world, including a best supporting role nomination at the Academy Awards for Willem Defoe for his role as Bobby. Analyze Bobby's character (by his words and actions). What do we make of his role and how it fits in with the movie as a whole?
III. There is a lot of repetition of action in the movie. What acts do we see repeated? What do you think the point of this repetition is?
IV. This goes back to a question from earlier in the term, but it remains an important one. Given that approximately 40 million Americans live in poverty, is it useful for people to see movies about characters who live in poverty in order for them to have some understanding of or empathy for their situations? Or can it backfire because it goes against the Horatio Alger myth we read about in the textbook? Please develop your answer with specific details from the movie.
V. What do you see as the good side and not-so-good side of Moonee's life? Explain with concrete examples from the film.