Frances Ha
Directed by: Noah Baumbach
Starring: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver
Reviewed by Adam Harmer

[rating: 4/5]

For those in the know, Noah Baumbach has been a talent to keep an eye on for some time. Not a new comer to the industry by any means, Baumbach has been solidly working for years, perhaps most notably as a co-writer on Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou and writing and directing the much acclaimed The Squid And The Whale in 2005. He has definitely made some quality films, but it feels like people have been waiting for him to really hit his stride. His latest effort, Frances Ha, has received much praise and hype from the inner circle of film buzz enthusiasts and I, for one, have been hoping it would live up to the expectations.

As a quiet character piece, Frances Ha subverts the usual narrative structure of a film. It’s difficult to say what the film is actually about, other than simply describing the character. Frances (Gerwig) is a creative, intelligent – almost bohemian – young woman from New York who seems to want to play her way through life – hoping her adolescence will never end. As we first meet her, she’s built a solid foundation for her wayward routine through the professional dance company she’s loosely affiliated with and her housemate Sophie. With little money coming in and few responsibilities, life seems like a perpetual adventure – a ceaseless game – for both Frances and Sophie. Such a fragile existence, however, is doomed for failure. As Sophie decides to move out Frances is forced to seek out a new living arrangement, but seems more focussed on pursuing the right playmates to keep the ride from ending. Frances’ misadventures lead her in a variety of comedic, awkward and entertaining directions. These antics, while mostly hilarious, do ever so occasionally wear a little thin.

There has, at least, been a small amount of criticism raised over Baumbach’s use of black and white cinematography in the film, but I thought it was highly appropriate and absolutely beautiful. Overall, it’s hard not to find the whole film completely endearing. The character that Gerwig and Baumbach have created is so witty and clumsy and charming that the absence of a solid arc for her can go forgiven in this rare case. Watching life unfold through Frances’ eyes is reason enough to be captivated by the film.

There is the nagging thought in the back of my head asking what the point of it all is and what has changed for any of the characters in the film by its end. Everybody just seems to flounder, perhaps divisively so. But even if that is the point of the film, I feel it’s not a very strong one, which is a small shame because the whole thing comes so close to being a masterpiece.

While the criticism is there, I do hesitate in making it as I really did fall in love with the film – almost as much as I fell in love with Frances. This wonderful character makes full use of the unbelievably talented Greta Gerwig, who fills every scene with charm and hilarity. I’m sure I won’t be the only one reminded of some old Woody Allen films. Meant in the most complimentary way, this film is very much the hipster Annie Hall.