Noah Baumbach‘s Frances Ha centers around a Dance Apprentice soon approaching her 30s, questioning what it is she really wants in life. She lives day to day in a free-spirited manner, deeming herself “undateable” and having little regard for the future. Frances’ (Greta Gerwig) world falls apart after her Best Friend and Roommate Sophie (Mickey Sumner) decides to move-in with her Boyfriend Patch (Patrick Heusinger). At the same time, she is faced with the reality that she is not needed in the upcoming Holiday Season at her Dance Company. She is then forced to find herself as she moves from roommate to roommate and job to job, before ultimately hitting rock bottom.
Shot entirely in black and white, Frances Ha is highly stylized and exquisite to the eye. Gerwig‘s unconventional beauty and undeniable charisma alone are enough to colour the entire screen. Although this a modern story for the Female Underdog, truly anyone going through a rough patch in their lives can leave feeling inspiration from the Film. The stakes and rewards never are that high, but the situations are v. real and I found myself relating completely.
Sumner (Daughter of Rock Legend Sting) is a fresh face and name to look-out for and turns-in a solid performance, embodying at least one female Friend we all have in our lives. Rescue Me‘s Michael Zegen lights-up the screen, teasing us with chemistry between Gerwig and himself, even if things never come to fruition for them.
Frances Ha is a cute and elegant piece of Art, never for a moment talking down to us. Release date to be determined.
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