Bozeman Magazine

Warm, winning, and gloriously alive, Sean Baker’s 'The Florida Project' is a deeply moving and unforgettably poignant look at childhood. Set on a stretch of highway just outside the imagined utopia of Disney World, the film follows six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince in a stunning breakout) and her rebellious mother Halley (Bria Vinai, another major discovery) over the course of a single summer. The two live week-to-week at “The Magic Castle,” a budget hotel managed by Bobby (a career-best Willem Dafoe), whose stern exterior hides a deep reservoir of kindness and compassion. Despite her harsh surroundings, the precocious and ebullient Moonee has no trouble making each day a celebration of life, her endless afternoons overflowing with mischief and grand adventure as she and her ragtag playmates fearlessly explore the utterly unique world into which they've been thrown. Unbeknownst to Moonee, however, her delicate fantasy is supported by the toil and sacrifice of Halley, who is forced to explore increasingly dangerous possibilities in order to provide for her daughter. Minneapolis Star-Tribune film critic Colin Covert raves; “It doesn't just show what its characters go through, it observes. It notices. It studies. This is a film that pays attention to the little details that communicate huge feelings.” Rated R, the film runs 115 minutes. General Admission, open seating tickets are $10, available only at the door, beginning at 6 p.m. “Keep ‘Em Flickering!”