Movie review
October 6, 2017 · 112 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Florida Project (2017) is a slice-of-life drama centered on a young girl's carefree summer adventures in a rundown motel near Walt Disney World, set against her single mother's desperate efforts to avoid homelessness and maintain stability. The narrative captures economic hardship, informal economies, and family bonds through naturalistic performances and minimal intervention. No identity-driven themes, activist dialogue, or representation emphasis are present or foregrounded for viewers.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Florida Project.
Woke representation / casting
Casting is demographically consistent with a poor white Southern family and local community; no forced diversity, gender swaps, or visible identity signaling in lead or supporting roles.
Woke political dialogue
Dialogue is sparse and naturalistic, centered on everyday survival and play with zero activist, political, or social-justice oriented speech.
Identity-driven story themes
Story engine is childhood wonder and maternal struggle against poverty; no arcs or messaging built around race, gender, sexuality, or identity affirmation.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Shows the grind of low-wage instability and housing insecurity through lived experience, but presents it as personal and situational rather than through modern activist lenses of systemic identity oppression or anti-capitalist polemic.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No documented backlash accusing the title of woke propaganda, forced representation, anti-male messaging, or similar; reception was largely positive and apolitical.
Creator track record context
Baker's filmography shows repeated focus on stigmatized groups and he has advocated for decriminalizing sex work and humanizing the marginalized, providing contextual background even as this specific story stays observational.
Production
