STORY STUDY - CRITERION WEEK 681. “Frances Ha”

It’s okay to be almost thirty and still not have your life together right? Right? So is the life of Frances Halladay.

Directed by Noah Baumbach, written by Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha is about a dancer, played by Gerwig, who lives in Brooklyn, New York with her best friend, Sophie.

When Sophie tells her she’s planning on moving out to Tribeca, Frances is forced to find somewhere else to live since she can’t afford to live alone.

Her coming-of-age journey challenges her as she loses her job, meeting new people and reconnecting with old ones, and finally realizing that some friendships don’t last long.

On the surface, the film doesn’t seem like much. When it comes down to it, it really does feel like white privileged girl problems.

So what makes it okay to actually like this kind of story? Well, it helps that the lead character is likeable. There is a sense of childlike innocence to her in the beginning, and seeing her grow into a more mature woman is satisfying and relieving. This kind of character can easily turn whiny, making her insufferable.

It also helps that everyone Frances meets is also endearing to watch. They have their own quirks and senses of humor that doesn’t make conversations awkward (though, that’s a matter of personal taste.)

The choice of presenting the film black-and-white in the 2010s isn’t anything new, especially when showing off New York. Still, it looks beautiful to look at.

I found out about the film when I was looking through the Criterion Collection for films to add for my own collection, and this fit right in with my preferred tone.

Frances Ha is not for everyone; it’s adequately paced, but you can argue that nothing exciting or engaging happens. However, as character studies go, it’s an adorable, sweet presentation of a young woman’s life that shows that no matter what professional or financial problems life throws at you, there’s always a chance to bounce back.