Frances Ha

Frances Ha is a 2013 American comedy drama film directed by Noah Baumbach, about a dancer struggling to find her place in the world, and a job, and drifting from apartment to apartment as she doesn't have a place to live. Greta Gerwig stars as Frances Halliday, a young dancer working as an understudy for a dance company, flitting between the apartments of her friends Sophie, played by Mickey Summer, Lev played by Adam Driver and Benji played by Michael Zegen.

The film reminded me a huge amount of Woody Allen's Manhattan, like Manhattan, Frances Ha is shot in black and white, giving the film a beautiful timeless quality,the script is fun and playful, and the performances feel real and lived in, the film belongs to the mumblecore movement, and thus the dialogue has a realistic quality. Frances Ha benefits from fantastic performances from its, largely unknown cast, and Great Gerwig shines as the fun, yet complicated Frances Halliday.

Frances Ha is surprisingly joyful for a modern film, the whole film has a light quality, and the films ending has a huge emotional payoff. Frances Ha feels uncomplicated and simple, and doesn't try to be too clever, in some ways the film feels slightly nonchalant and unpretentious, and the whole film has a charm that feels missing from modern Hollywood. The film is entirely engrossing, and we get entirely caught up in Frances' story, this is due for the most part to Great Gerwig's performance, which should have been nominated for an Oscar this year, yet which sadly was snubbed.

Writing this review has been a little difficult, and i feel like i don't have enough to say, but what enchanted me about Frances Ha was the pure joy i felt from watching it, and the sheer amount of pleasure this film gave me, like it's spiritual predecessor Manhattan, Frances Ha looks to be a timeless film that will be enjoyed by many generations for years to come. Frances Ha, like the character is enchanting, effervescent and quirky. Rating: B+

Sophie: It's just this apartment is very... aware of itself.