Frances Ha

Movie Name: Frances Ha
Year of Release: 2012

Director: Noah Baumbach

Stars: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Michael Esper, Adam Driver, Michael Zegen, Grace Gummer, Charlotte d'Amboise, Patrick Heusinger

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

"Frances Ha" follows director Noah Baumbach's latest directorial effort "Greenberg", which also featured the performance of Greta Gerwig, who is a co-writer on this feature. The film follows the story of Frances, a 27 year old dancer, who shares an apartment with her best friend Sophie in NY. Frances is honest and outspoken, and seamlessly wandering in random directions (both professionally and personally), something that gets aggravated when Sophie moves out and Frances is forced to find a place to live. The film follows the life of this young woman, who is looking for some meaning and a path to her life that always seems to be going in directions she doesn't quite control.
Noah Baumbach has managed to create a film that is endearing and funny, following the life of a young woman in NY (even including some slapstick moments). The film has a certain touch of Woody Allen, in the way that it captures Frances' socially awkward behavior at times, surrounded by a certain intellectual milieu that prevails in the NY art scene. Greta Gerwig creates a character that is at times annoying, sweet and comical - her Frances is simply eager to find a direction in her life, but doesn't really know how to start. These are the pains of growing up and becoming an adult, even if it is in the bohemian and intellectual scenario of NY (and even if the young men and women in this film come from financially "comfortable" backgrounds). Also to be highlighted, the performance of Mickey Sumner as Sophie and the beautiful cinematography of Sam Levy. A good film to be seen and enjoyed.