The final scene in Sean Baker's incredibly powerful "The Florida Project" is the best ending of any movie this year.
Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and her mother are on the verge of being separated by Child Protective Services when Moonee runs away to her friend's house at the neighboring motel. As she cries, her friend grabs her hand, and with music coming on for the first time since the opening credits, we see the two run through locations we saw them in during the movie in a series of cuts — and suddenly through the gates of Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
The sequence, shot from the point-of-view of the back of their heads, and following their path until they finally disappear into the crowded streets of Magic Kingdom, has a different feel and tone than the rest of the movie.
The emotion of what has occurred, the sudden use of music; Baker is taking us to the place that cheers up all kids. It's the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And as quickly as the sequence starts, it ends and the credits begin.
You are left sitting there recounting what you experienced and looking forward to when you can go through it all again.