Dire as that might seem, Baker turns this downbeat «America today» premise into the
stuff of everyday beauty and wonder by lining up his brightly - lit but cool pastel aesthetic with the way his 6 - year - old protagonist, Moonee (Brooklynn Kimberly Prince), sees the run - down souvenir shops, ice - cream parlours, and rival motels around her as a
kind of raggedy jungle gym.