The film is one about a little girl named Moonee who lives with her Mom in a motel in Florida within sight of Disney World. The story is a reflection of a life of poverty and one's need to make a living without boundaries on what that work could be. Moonee's Mom, Halley is an exotic dancer who gets fired for not having sex with clients at the strip club. But soon after, out of desperation to make money, Halley begins to solicit sex on the internet. She even sleeps with a man while Moonee is locked in the bathroom with loud music playing.
The visual contrast of Disney World being so close to all of this going on reveals the hard reality of life for many in America. Of those who don't have the skills or the squeaky clean image to get honest jobs, and the willingness of people to pay for sexual acts. This contrasted with the squeaky clean Disney World where all the magic comes to life creates a dark reality, especially for the kids in this story. They are left alone and gravitate towards getting into trouble as they aren't being guided in a way that keeps them in line with the necessary structure and discipline needed for growth because their parents don't have it as well.
And with this we see how so many kids get left behind, and families are split apart. We watch as social services come to take Moonee away from Halley. As Moonee runs towards Disney World, we see her desire for a better life, one far away from the hardships of her reality as her Mom is left with no choice as the state must take her child from her.
