22:15 On never being able to get ahead: it’s really hard to get ahead when you are by yourself. My parents are immigrants and all the immigrants stuck together and that’s how they got ahead. My mother’s brothers brang her to the US and paid rent driving taxi (this was the 80s) while she was going to school, then she got a job making like 80 cents an hour at KFC. I was so sad when Bria’s character and Mela’s character started fighting because if they joined forces they could really have helped themselves and their kids.
Ala Collins Ala, I just saw this a couple nights ago and not since "BIUTIFUL" by Innaritu and starring Javier Bardem (the role of a lifetime) have I been so leveled, absolutely razed to the emotional foundation by a film. It takes courage to re-watch the scene where Mooney the little girl is going to be snatched up by Chilld Protective Services and Mooney goes to her friend that lives in the hotel Room one floor below and she says, "I think this is the last time I'll see you and I don't know what to say!" And there are big little girl tears rolling down her precious face and my heart is still put together with electric tape...a heart churning performance by Brooklyn Prince. The other kids are great, natural and I believe Brooklyn was the only one with previous acting experience. Willem Dafoe, in a character that is deceptively simple (uncomplicated), mines the part and his excavation is hidden but it shows in his walk, facial expressions, just everything he does and doesn't do. Amazing performance. The most unsympathetic character is Mooney's mom, played by Bria Vinaite. Her anger at her circumstances and other things we are not privy to, while I know she's had a hard life filled with abuse, she just doesn't know how to step down for the sake of Mooney. I'm going to find this director's other films.
Lovely energy from the director Sean Baker and actors Brooklynn Kimberly Prince, Bria Vinaite, Valeria Cotto and Willem Dafoe. And Willem Dafoe really shines for being so humble despite being a seasoned & world famous actor. I am looking forward to attending a premier screening of this film, here in London - and knowing that I am going to thoroughly enjoying watching this film, I hope Sean Baker and everyone else involved in the subsequent work they do to help other people, brings about great change! I also hope to see Sean Baker work with these actors again.
YES THEY ARE REAL AND IM ONE OF THEM !!! I live next to Boston so the fact that they are saying this is not only an issue in Florida it blew my mind that they are acknowledging that this is an issue and he’s right we are technically homeless I got lucky and now I have my own place but it’s still hard and I still struggle and living in an out of hotels on the street for so long is so hard I can’t imagine doing it with a child this is why I grew to love this movie because it speaks to me and I’m so connected to it I can relate to it so much
I can’t wait to stay at the real magic castle hotel ! That’s what makes this movie even velveteen that the hotel is real and the whiskey of the hotel is and all the stores around it are the helicopter tours are real the fact that Disney is a few miles away like the movie are real! I’ve lived I. Hotels just like these for years so this movie hits home and I can’t wait to stay a few weeks at the magic castle and be able to walk the same streets they did and watch the movie at night in that setting being able to talk to ppl who were there during the movie ugh I’m obsessed and I want a sequel pls !!!!!!
Also, for people who do not know, plz remember that rural homelessness, and rural "motel families" exist too. Poverty isn't just an "urban" problem, and a lot of times the services that are available in cities (public transit, social services, food banks, etc) are not readily available in rural areas.
I saw the movie. It's very good. I love the kids in the movie; I love the plot. I love the story. William Dafo is great. The one thing I don't like is Bria Vinaite. Bria is just sleazy and phoney. She speaks with artificial voice.
completely disagree. she's a new york chick, and I feel like she embodies the new york 'bad bitch' type. that's where some of that "sleaze" might come from. but I think she's so unique, in look and vibe, and I thought she was soooooo good in this movie. super trashy character, but I thought she played the role so well. but that's my opinion. I know I'm hoping to see much more of her in the near future.
