COMIC DRAMA; 1hr 26min
STARRING: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner
Stepping out: Gerwig
How could anyone not fall for happy-go-lucky Frances Ha (Gerwig) when Frances Ha itself is a labour of love from the bubbly actress and her director, co-writer and real-life partner, Noah Baumbach? At 27, cash-strapped New York City apprentice dancer Frances is not really where she wants to be, temporarily rooming with two cool, guy friends (Adam Driver and Michael Zegen) after her sharp-witted bestie, Sophie (Sumner), with whom Frances has an acutely observed and ardently rocky relationship, flicks her for a new boyfriend (Patrick Heusinger) and a Tribeca apartment.
Craving love but not finding it, Frances drifts — to her folks in Sacramento for Christmas, to Paris for a solitary weekend and to a menial summer job at her old college. Yet what might sound going-nowhere-fast depressing romps in as a left-field homage to positivity, filmed in retro black and white and gently guided by Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale). Its leading lady is klutzy, messy, introspective and a little bit off in the loveliest way. And she comes through with bells on because she simply refuses to accept that she won’t.
