Review: ‘Frances Ha’ a Feel-Good Story and Director/Writer Noah Baumbach at His Best


Noah Baumbach’s 2012 comedy/drama film is a light-hearted feature that follows aspiring dancer Frances Halladay (Greta Gerwig). Shot in stylish black and white, “Frances Ha” allows Gerwig to show the talent she has in front of the camera, as well as behind it. Its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival led the film to receive generally positive reviews; Gerwig even received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. 

Frances Halladay is a 27-year-old dancer who resides in New York City alongside her best friend, Sophie (Mickey Sumner). When Sophie decides to move out to Tribeca, Frances moves in with Lev (Adam Driver) and Benji (Michael Zegen). Viewers are then taken on a journey alongside Frances as she throws herself into following her dreams and navigates her way through friendships, hardships, and the struggle to live a successful life. 

Greta Gerwig is electric in the title role. Her performance is natural, and she’s an incredibly likeable lead; her portrayal of Frances helps viewers to see the character as someone they relate to. Gerwig leads a supporting cast consisting of Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver, and Michael Zegen—all of whom give brilliant performances. Sam Levy’s cinematography is fresh, easy on the eye and makes “Frances Ha” a visually pleasing viewing experience. 

Despite the film’s loose, improvised feel, viewers will be surprised to know that the cast followed a tight script written by Gerwig and Baumbach. The fascination with perfection and ideality is evident through the film. Frances has aspirations to be a successful dancer in NYC but also makes comments referring to her being “too tall” or “I’m not a real person yet.”

Throughout the film, Baumbach brings in various themes; all of these relate in one way or another to Frances’ experience living in the city. Whether it be money problems or work struggles, Frances Halladay comes face to face with it all. Relationships also play an important role throughout the film, both familial and friend-wise; they all link back to the idea of how you interact with the people around you. “Frances Ha” also reminds us you have to do things you don’t want to get the life you want. 

If you’re looking for another project that allows Noah Baumbach to showcase his ability to direct, then you should watch his directorial debut, “Kicking and Screaming.” However, if your looking for another coming-of-age story, then the 2017 dramedy “Ladybird” is for you. It’s a heart-warming story about life and relationships that also happens to feature Gerwig in the director’s chair. 

Overall, “Frances Ha” is a light, enjoyable film that shines a light on problems that nearly everyone has had to deal with at one point in their lives. Noah Baumbach brings viewers a feel-good story that features sensational performances, voguish, modern cinematography, and a brilliant script that allows each cast member to showcase their talent. 

You can watch “Frances Ha” on Apple TV, Prime Video, and most other streaming services.