DVD

Whatever you make of The Florida Project (15) ★★★★★ I think you’ll agree that it’s a mighty strange picture to release for Mother’s Day. True, its colour scheme wouldn’t look out of place in a Doris Day romcom. But there is precious little rom here, and the com is dark, dark, dark.

We’re in Orlando, at the Magic Castle motel, where the guests include six-yearold Moonee, her mum Halley, Halley’s tattoos and nose ring, and an army of welfare officers. Though we should all thank our stars we’re not part of The

Florida Project, there’s no denying the pleasures to be had from this picture. For one thing, there’s Brooklynn Prince, the actress who plays Moonee in the most assured young debut since Jean-Pierre Leaud in François Truffaut’s 400 Blows.

Moonee fleeces passers-by with such vigour that you’re as charmed as Dickens readers are by the Artful Dodger. I even laughed along as she set fire to an abandoned house. As Mum, meanwhile, the totally untrained Bria Vinaite has candour and bravery to spare. She never flinches from showing us quite how much a piece of work Halley is. Although it’s lightened by a comic turn by Willem Dafoe (below), The Florida Project isn’t easy viewing. But it might just be vital viewing. Only The Brave (12) ★★★ is more conventional fodder. Based on the true story of a firefighting unit that came up against one blaze too many, it’s soapy stuff. But it’s redeemed by turns from Josh Brolin, Jennifer Connelly (below) and Miles Teller. It’s Grandmother’s Day, too, so an oldie seems in order. How about The Barefoot Contessa (PG) with Humphrey Bogart (above) ★★★★★? What do you need to know other than that the frocks and suits are gorgeous?