Movie Analysis Post on The Florida Project

 Movie Analysis Post

The Florida Project

Scene 1:

The original two kids (Moonee and Scooty) knock on one of the motels’ doors and invite another kid, Jancey, to go play. The mom of Jancey continuously asks what they are going to do. The kids know they are going to wander off and walk around the town but they refuse to tell her and instead just reassure her that Jancey is safe with them. This comment is meant to be cute and funny. The whole conversation is set up as an over the shoulder shot. Eventually the mom agrees. The scene cuts to the 3 kids walking across the street to the other part of the motel, this part is filmed with a steadicam. It follows the kids freely as they walk across the road. This scene is short lived as it switches to a wide shot of the kids. I find this scene to be very cinematic as it just shows the kids, from the side, as they walk across the first location; “Orange World.” The camera is set in one place for every location, it shows the whole location (a store), as the kids walk across the whole screen, again the camera is not moved, it is set (static and wide shot). This shots gives a sense of innocence and freedom from the kids. Just the fact that they have the freedom and are just walking around enjoying each others presence gives you the feeling of child innocence. The camera stays in the same shot size, and position as the location abruptly changes as soon as the kids reach the end of the screen. The location changes three times, the third time being different. The abrupt change from location to location can also show the audience how far the kids are actually walking. They reach a little ice cream parlor with only an order window. The camera stays in the same position as the kids turn their back to the viewers and run to the parlor and ask for money to buy ice cream. The camera angle switches to the kids sitting up against the parlor, counting their money. This scene doesn’t have a specific camera angle but the way it is set up gives a sense of conflict to the scene.

Scene 2:

This is a shorter scene so there wasn’t much to write about but I found the scene to be funny and interesting. 

This scene happens after the three kids from the previous scene go into the power room of the motel and turn off all the power.

This scene is filmed as an ultra wide shot as we get a look of the stairs of the motel and all the doors of the rooms. As people realize the power is off, slowly one by one, people flood out of their rooms and stand on the balcony of the floor they are on. This scene quickly becomes humorous, as the people start yelling out and complaining. The remarks and comments they say are funny, this is funny also because of the overlapping voices and complaints. Suddenly the owner of the motel runs out after hearing the complaints (the scene still ultra wide). The way it is set up, it sort of isolates him since he is one person running across the motel out of a lot of people not moving. Although he doesn’t stick out, the way they had everyone stand mostly still as he was the only one frantically moving, it gives a feeling of his rush or, hurry to get back to the power room.

Scene 3:

First off, the first part of this scene is very sad.

Background information: CPS was called on Moonee’s mom, Moonee is now going to be taken away, the CPS workers take Moonee away and walk with her but she knows what is going on. She manages to get away and she runs over to Jancey’s motel room.

She frantically bangs on the door hoping Jancey opens it. Jancey eventually opens the door for her, the scene switches from a long shot of Moonee facing away from the camera and to the door, to an over the shoulder conversation between Moonee and Jancey. Moonee stands in front of Jancey hyperventilating and looking around frantically. Jancey asked Moonee what was wrong and Moonee begins to sob. This intimate and close moment between the two girls shows how close they are and how important they are to each other. Moonee sobs as she pleads to Jancey (not yet specified to Jancey why). Jancey, confused, asks Moonee again what happened and told her that she was getting worried. Moonee manages to mumble out through her sobs “I can’t say it” implying how hurt she is from the whole situation. The acting from both of the girls especially Moonee gives the scene a bigger feeling of sadness, and it is so depressing to watch. Moonee’s actress’s way of portraying her lines is amazing. Jancey just looks at Moonee worriedly as she waits for an answer. Moonee then says “bye”, in a way that shows Jancey she is saying goodbye to her forever. Suddenly Jancey’s expression changes from one of worry and sadness, to one of determination as action music turns on, Jancey grabs Moonee by the arms and leads her away running. This scene is filmed all handheld, giving a sense of chaos and urgency from the two girls. A montage of angles of the girls running far away is played as Jancey runs with Moonee. Jancey seems to know where she is going, they run, both smiling. It is soon revealed that they were running to Magic Kingdom. This isn’t weird since the movie is filmed in a town extremely close to Magic Kingdom (walking distance). The camera follows close behind them as they run, weaving through the large crowd on main street. (fun fact it was normal people actually on vacation in the scene, you can see them smiling and looking at the camera as the girls run by). The camera slows down but the girls continue running at the same pace. The camera slowly moves, getting the castle more into frame, this scene continues until the girls are fully out of frame and you only see some of the people and the entire castle. This is the complete ending of the movie, it is left up to the viewers imagination what eventually happened to the girls and if the whole Disney part was actually real or just Moonee’s imagination of what she wish happened. The whole set up and the movements they use in this Disney scene and the running leading up to arriving, shows that the girls feel free, and they are finally happy again.