Frances Ha

The coming of age story has always defined independent films. Journeys of self-discovery are extremely relatable and compelling. On the surface, Frances Ha appears to be another typical go around but it’s much deeper than that. Our introduction to Frances is very whimsical. She lives with her best friend and spends time frolicking in the park and following her dreams working as a dancer. She looks to be living the dream life in New York City. However, all is not well in this dream world. She has little money, breaks up with her boyfriend, and can’t seem to make progress in her dancing career. Her best friend and everyone else around her are moving forward while Frances continues to dance in circles.

Because of financial and friendship drama, Frances is continually moving, never really able to settle down in one place for too long. She doesn’t have the financial support that her roommates and friends do but she attempts to live the same poor artist lifestyle while trying to find a way to pay for food or rent. She’s amazed that anyone could find motivation to even leave the house. In her struggles, we see the struggles of many 20 somethings now. She is such a bold reflection of the crises that many of us of that age group are going through. She has dreams she wants to attain but doesn’t really do anything to pursue them. Having the dream is enough for her, achieving it seems inevitable so why would she need to put forth the effort to get there? Asking for more opportunities to teach classes is enough for her and can make her feel like she’s done something, despite the fact that her offer is declined.

What struck me the most was a very small moment but this small moment speaks volumes to the plight of all my fellow 20 somethings. At a restaurant, Frances attempts to pay for food but can’t since she doesn’t have a credit card. She offhandedly says “I’m not like a real person yet” and it hits right on the mark. We don’t know how to be real people. No one taught us or we were too stubborn to listen. Frances runs aimlessly through the city, looking for any ATM to get money out of, even if that means paying the transaction fee. In a way, that’s how she lives her life, running aimlessly and having to pay unexpected consequences for not being equipped to handle life. It’s only once that she stops dreaming and starts living in the real world that she’s finally able to achieve her goals and fulfill her ambitions.

I can’t express how much that message resonated with me, as someone with lofty dreams but no real direction to make them happen. Something else that sets this film apart from other coming of age stories is the lack of romantic interest in the movie. It’s not a film about finding someone who makes you happy but rather taking the steps to make yourself happy. Life isn’t a fairytale and it’s foolish to expect it to be.

What really helps make this all work is Great Gerwig’s performance. She’s very likable despite all her missteps and whimsy. She’s able to avoid being too cute for her own good and is a full developed character. We understand why she makes the decisions she makes, even if we don’t agree with them. The film is in black and white which could potential be pretentious but this actually helps the film and its themes have an ageless quality to them. It seems almost timeless. We’ve gone through all these feelings and experiences before, now it’s time to look forward.