Every year in recent memory, I somehow discover a stellar gem of a movie that reveals an aspect of American society that I haven’t previously considered. The Florida Project is this movie for 2017. Its story of the “hidden homeless” and its children reacting to their “magical” world around them is heartbreaking to watch and is supplemented by the wonderful acting across the board. We see the world of the Magic Castle through eyes of a naive Moonee, played by Brooklynn Prince. Bria Vinaite plays Moonee’s mother Halley and Willem Dafoe plays the hotel manager Bobby. All of their performances shape a world unseen and unheard of on cinematic film. The ending has me conflicted though. Why is joy the note that director Sean Baker wanted to end on?

72/100 – Warmly Recommended