Frances Ha (2012)

Frances Ha follows 27-year-old Frances Halladay as she drifts and dances through contemporary New York, apprenticing at a modern dance company even though she’s not quite the trained dancer she imagines herself to be. Living a precarious life—no steady apartment, strained friendship with her best friend Sophie, uncertain romantic possibilities—Frances navigates jobs, auditions, breakups and moves with a mixture of unaccountable joy, awkwardness and stubborn hope. The story is less about big plot turns than about the small, telling moments that reveal who she is and how she learns to live more honestly. Watching the film, you’ll experience a breezy, bittersweet tone: sharp, funny dialogue paired with moments of real melancholy. The black-and-white cinematography and nimble camera work give the city a timeless, intimate feel, while dance sequences, rehearsals and everyday routines create a rhythm that mirrors Frances’s internal life. Greta Gerwig’s performance brings a contagious energy—you’ll laugh at her missteps, wince at her denials, and ultimately root for her desire to carve out a life that matches her dreams. If you like character-driven indie dramas with a strong sense of place, dry humor, and emotional honesty, Frances Ha offers a warm, bittersweet portrait of youth, friendship and the awkward business of growing up in a big city.

Actors: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver

Director: Noah Baumbach

Runtime: 86 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

6.9 /10 82 /100 7.4 /10 7.5 /10