It is the responsibility of adults to give children freedom
The film "Florida Project" (The Florida Project 2017) does involve some practical issues, such as the polarization between the rich and the poor, the protection of minors, the survival of marginalized people, etc., but the film’s most noteworthy issue may be the issue of "children’s happiness" . In my opinion, "freedom is the source of happiness". Children enjoy freedom and adults take responsibility. This is the correct way to open children's happiness. Try to interpret as follows:
Give complete freedom. Freedom should be an unfettered state. The little girl Moni in this film is almost always happy from start to finish. The reason is that she enjoys unfettered freedom. Of course, thanks to his mother Harley. What Harley was like before, the film does not explain, but how she is now, it is very clear: a single mother, living in a low-rent housing, unemployed, and not keeping her past. Even so, she never complained to her children, let alone beaten or scolded; she tried not to show negative emotions in front of her children, and did not associate any unsatisfactory life with her children. She gave the child almost complete freedom, which was obviously the main reason why little Moni was always happy. However, Moni’s friends are not so lucky, because their parents have set boundaries for their behavior. For example, Dickey was banned for a full week for spitting, and Scotty was restricted from going out due to the arson incident. Boundary is responsibility.
Liability does not limit freedom. Freedom sometimes requires negative consequences, which is the so-called responsibility. At the beginning of the film, the spitting incident was mentioned, which caused Xiao Diqi to lose the qualification to go out to play, and his father directly let him bear the responsibility for the accident. In the same incident, Moni’s mother’s approach was completely different. Her way of holding her children accountable was to eliminate the consequences of spitting. It is also educated by "a sense of responsibility", but compared with Dickey, Moni's freedom is not affected at all. Sometimes children’s freedom is the responsibility of their parents, so after Scotty set the fire, his mother Ashley was so scared to death and changed her caregiver. As a result, Scotty lost the freedom to go out and play. It's hard to say that Harley was unaware of her daughter in this incident, but she played a gloating spectator in front of the fire. This seems worthy of criticism, but it was an arson aimed at an abandoned house. No one was held accountable, nor did it cause any harm. In Harley’s view, this does not constitute a reason to restrict children from going out to play. Therefore, she expressed dissatisfaction with Ashley's approach and reminded her that she did not get into trouble because of this, and there is no need to restrict the children's freedom. Although, on the issue of arson, we may feel that Harley’s approach is a bit irresponsible and failed to educate the children in time, but in the back we saw Scotty huddled in the house alone, do you think the children have been "educated" But lost more? It can be seen that the more the parents lack the ability to take responsibility, the more difficult it is to guarantee the freedom of the child.
Caring for freedom. Freedom has enemies, and so is the freedom for children to be happy. It needs the care of adults. Carefree freedom is sometimes attacked for no reason. It is easy to be repelled by those who approach the child with bad intentions, but those who have bad intentions towards freedom based on certain rules, rules or concepts are more difficult to deal with. Harley was forced to live in another inn temporarily because of the rules of the motel. Watching Moni dancing to the TV and sitting on the sofa with her feet upright, the Arab female manager of the inn couldn’t bear it. Even if she paid enough, she was unwilling to do this business. Reasons It is the "fallen" appearance of Harley's mother and daughter. Obviously, Arab children will never be unruly and free to such a degree. Such making things difficult and discriminating, Harley will certainly fight back. She not only has to protect the children, but more importantly, the dignity of the free world. Educating children to obey certain rules, whether it is legal, moral or customary, is sometimes suppressing children's nature and compressing their freedom.
Create conditions for freedom. Sometimes freedom requires material conditions. Even if Disneyland is not far away, even if the resort hotel is close at hand, for children from a family like Moni, it is not free to consume and enjoy. But Harley finds a way to bring the children to the park to watch the fireworks show. The happiness of the children will not be much different from that in the park. It is immoral to take the children to the hotel and use other people’s buffets. Although it is immoral, she creates for the children. An opportunity to enjoy a gluttonous feast, that kind of happiness and satisfaction may be unforgettable for Moni. To do things that are demeaning and ethical for the sake of freedom and survival, sometimes we don’t think it is so indecent.
Freedom that must end. Although we think that Harley has done a good job as a mother, she has given her children full freedom of happiness, but this kind of freedom cannot and should not continue, because after all, children have to grow up and face the society. Even if he is unwilling, Harley knows that the child welfare agency will eventually intervene, take the child away, and let the child receive education. In fact, she was already prepared. The mother and daughter playing in the rain (seemingly having their intentions) and the gluttonous meal before parting were obviously the last freedom and happiness she wanted to provide her child with. (Text/Slate Planting Flowers Tuesday, January 9, 2018)
Ps. Thank you Whale Subtitle Group & Adventure Subtitle Group for providing Chinese subtitles for this film!
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