Movie Review - Frances Ha

Indie film director Noah Baumbach, known for his dark humour films such as: ‘The Squid and the Whale’ and ‘Margot at the Wedding,’ has come out with a new cinematic feat, ‘Frances Ha.’ The film features quirky and whimsical actress Greta Gerwig, who plays a young woman in the midst of finding her purpose in life.

Frances is 27 years old, living with her from university, Sophie (Mickey Sumner daughter of Sting). The two women share a great affection for one another, which they describe as, “lesbian love without the sex.” So deep-rooted is their friendship, that when Frances’ boyfriend asks her to move in with him, she declines the offer, because of her upcoming rental lease renewal with Sophie. Under the circumstances, the boyfriend dissolves their relationship.

Ironically, Sophie decides to take an apartment in the uber pricey Tribeca neighbourhood in Manhattan, which is impossibly out of Frances’ budget. With no boyfriend, apartment-less and her best friend suddenly out of her life as well, Frances finds herself in an unnerving situation. 

Frances clings desperately to her dream of becoming a full-time dancer at the company where she is currently apprenticing. However, even her dance career is not going as planned. When she is asked, “What do you do?” during a dinner party, she replies: “It’s kind of hard to explain.” “Because what you do is complicated?” she is asked. “Because I don’t really do it,” she replied.

The film manages to capture the state of belated adulthood, which so many experience post college, as well as convey the thorny road which an individual may encounter in an attempt of becoming an artist. Confronting the fear and disappointment on one’s journey, and developing the willpower to carve the path which eventually becomes one’s own.

Baumbach and Gerwig co-wrote this black and white endearing film. As Francis, Gerwig has a clumsy elegance about her, which when accompanied with her seemingly effortless sense of comedic timing, is an absolute delight to watch. She shines in this role.

‘Frances Ha’ is a wonderful and refreshing story, which is told with wit and intelligent humour. The self discovery journey it depicts is easily applied to all generations, regardless if they are currently dubbed “hipsters” or once known as “hippies.”