In "Flophouse America," 12-year-old Mikal navigates a life of hardship as he grows up in a cheap American hotel, or "flophouse", where his parents struggle with alcohol abuse and poverty. Despite their love for him, their chaotic existence threatens to pull him down. Set against the backdrop of radical economic inequality in the U.S., the film captures Mikal’s resilience as he finds glimmers of hope amid an unexpected tragedy. The documentary follows three years of Mikal’s life, chronicling his fight for a better future. Director Monica Strømdahl, a photographer by profession, spent 15 years documenting marginalized communities in the U.S. before meeting Mikal and his family. She put down her camera and picked up a film camera, capturing their journey in intimate and unflinching detail.