"This movie accomplishes something almost miraculous — two things, actually. It casts a spell and tells the truth." – A.O. Scott, New York Times
Set on a stretch of highway just outside the imagined utopia of Disney World, the film follows six-year-old Moonee and her rebellious mother Halley over the course of a single summer. The two live week to week at “The Magic Castle,” a budget motel managed by Bobby (Willem Dafoe), whose stern exterior hides a deep reservoir of kindness and compassion. Despite her harsh surroundings, the precocious and ebullient Moonee has no trouble making each day a celebration of life.