Every teacher I know (and I know plenty) has kids in her class who live in hotels and motels. That might sound exotic but this is whole families living in one room of a seedy, run down motel. It's heartbreaking.
I also know people and groups who dedicate themselves to fixing this problem. for about 15 years my church has been part of a group that houses temporarily homeless families until they can save enough money to pay the deposit on another apartment.
But rentals are sky high here in the land of Mickey Mouse. So if, say, somebody breaks an arm and has to go to the hospital, that month's rent is gone. And so is that family's housing.
Yesterday we saw the new highly acclaimed film by Sean Baker, The Florida Project. It features a sweet, adorable, funny, happy six year old named Moonee, living with her mom in a motel close to Disney called "The Magic Castle." She is totally unaware of the dangers around her, like malnutrition, predators, speeding cars, and bedbugs.
She and her friends have the run of the place. They're happy and carefree, full of childhood innocence. After all, they're living on the edge of paradise. Moonee is also a little trouble maker. She corrupts her friends into conning their way into free ice cream. They mischievously turn off the power to the entire complex. They start a fire in an adjoining abandoned hotel.
One of Moonee's favorite things to do is play with her Barbie doll in the bathtub. She does this while her mom turns tricks in the room just on the other side of the bathroom door.
By the way, mom loves Moonee but she is young, paranoid, has no self control so no job, no money and no relationships. I'm sure the concept of delayed gratification is not realistic in this case.
By the way, I know people like this. I'll bet you do as well.
The only person in the film who is strong enough to withstand all that is happening around him is the manager, Bobby, played to perfection by Willem Defoe. He protects his guests over and over again and they pretty much hate him for it.
Two final things: first, the film is LOUD. I was in so much discomfort that I took my hearing aids off and tried to close up my ears. But I understand why we, the viewers, were made to feel this discomfort. The guests at The Magic Castle Hotel live in a constant world of loud noise, from the roar of the traffic to the rise of nearby helicopters.
Second, I've read that the ending is highly controversial. Moonee, who is ultimately in deep crisis, and her friend escape from The Magic Castle Hotel and find themselves, eventually, walking hand-in-hand down Disney's Main Street toward Cinderella's Castle." That's it. The End.
Wouldn't it be great if it was "the end." But, Disney and Cinderella's Castle aren't real.
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