The Florida Project (2017) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The Florida Project (2017), directed by Sean Baker, concludes with a heartbreaking yet ambiguous finale where Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and her friend Jancey (Valeria Cotto) run away from child protective services after Moonee's mother, Halley (Bria Vinaite), is reported for neglect. The girls hold hands and sprint to Disney World's Magic Kingdom, symbolizing a desperate escape from their harsh reality into a world of fantasy. The film cuts abruptly to a shaky, iPhone-style shot of them entering the park, leaving their fate unresolved but emphasizing the bittersweet contrast between childhood innocence and systemic poverty.*
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The ending of The Florida Project is a poignant blend of realism and magical thinking, reflecting the film's central theme of childhood resilience in the face of adversity. After Halley's increasingly desperate behavior (including prostitution and theft) leads to a welfare check, Moonee is moments away from being taken by child services. In a burst of defiance and fear, she grabs Jancey's hand, and the two sprint across a highway toward Disney World-a place Moonee has admired from afar but never visited. The abrupt shift to a grainy, handheld shot of them entering the park (filmed covertly on an iPhone) creates a dreamlike rupture from the film's otherwise naturalistic style. This choice suggests a fleeting, almost illusory moment of triumph, where the girls briefly outrun their grim circumstances.
Symbolism and Themes
The Magic Kingdom serves as a powerful symbol throughout the film-a glittering monument to joy and escapism that taunts the motel's residents with its proximity yet inaccessibility. By ending with Moonee and Jancey charging into the park, the film underscores the cruel irony of their lives: they live in the shadow of "the happiest place on Earth" but are excluded from its promises. The shaky camera work and lack of resolution force the audience to question whether this is a literal escape or a metaphorical one-a final fantasy conjured by Moonee as her world collapses. The film's title, referencing Disney's original name for the Florida resort, reinforces this tension between corporate fantasy and marginalized reality.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- Do Moonee and Jancey actually make it into Disney World?
- Literal interpretation: They sneak in, but their future remains uncertain.
- Metaphorical interpretation: The scene is Moonee's imagination, a last-ditch coping mechanism.
- What happens to Moonee after this moment?
- She's caught and placed in foster care, severing her bond with Halley.
- She's briefly free but eventually forced to confront the system.
- Is Halley redeemable?
- Her love for Moonee is genuine, but her choices are unsustainable.
- She's a victim of cyclical poverty, not malice.
Contrast With the Film's Tone
Until the finale, The Florida Project is grounded in gritty realism, painting a vivid portrait of life on society's fringes. The ending's sudden departure into ambiguity feels both jarring and fitting-a testament to how children like Moonee use imagination to survive. The motel's purple walls, Halley's chaotic love, and Bobby's (Willem Dafoe) quiet guardianship all lead to this moment, where fantasy and reality collide. The lack of closure mirrors the instability of Moonee's life, refusing to offer a tidy resolution to an inherently messy situation.
Personal Opinion
The ending is a masterstroke of emotional storytelling. By denying a clear resolution, Baker forces the audience to sit with the discomfort of Moonee's plight. The iPhone footage-raw and intimate-feels like a stolen glimpse into a fleeting moment of joy, making it all the more devastating. While some might crave a more concrete conclusion, the ambiguity honors the film's commitment to authenticity. The Florida Project doesn't judge its characters; it simply shows their lives with unflinching empathy. The ending, like the rest of the film, is a heartbreaking tribute to the resilience of kids who grow up too fast but never stop dreaming.