“Frances Ha” is a 2012 black-and-white comedy-drama film directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written by Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, who also stars as the film’s main character. The movie follows the life and personal growth of Frances Halladay, an aspiring dancer living in New York City.
The film opens with Frances, a 27-year-old dancer apprentice with a modern dance company. She lives in Brooklyn with her best friend, Sophie (Mickey Sumner). Frances and Sophie share an incredibly close and seemingly inseparable friendship. They have dreams of success and happiness, with Frances working towards becoming a professional dancer and Sophie aspiring to a career in publishing.
However, their lives turn when Sophie decides to move out of their shared apartment and live with someone else. Frances, who is financially unstable and struggling to make ends meet, faces challenges and changes. She bounces between different living arrangements, friendships, and jobs, often struggling to find her footing in the city and her place in the world of dance.
Throughout the film, Frances embarks on self-discovery and growth, navigating the complexities of friendship, ambition, and love. She takes on various odd jobs, including working as an apprentice at a dance company, a waitress at a fancy restaurant, and a dance instructor for young children. She attempts to build her career as a dancer, even though her talents are not as highly recognized as she wishes.
Frances also encounters a series of romantic relationships, including a brief fling with an awkward but charming guy named Lev (Adam Driver). These relationships add depth and complexity to her character, highlighting her struggle to connect with others and understand her desires.
As the story unfolds, Frances begins to embrace the uncertainties and imperfections of her life. She learns to stand on her own and find her own path, realizing that the idealized future she had envisioned with Sophie may not be her own. The film concludes with Frances embracing her independence and continuing her journey of self-discovery in the vibrant backdrop of New York City.
“Frances Ha” is a heartfelt and character-driven film that captures the essence of the millennial generation’s struggles with adulthood, friendship, and identity.
The Other Cinema 