There’s an awkward charm to this film, and not just in the fashion that Greta Gerwig finds her way into the audience’s collective heart. The film seeks to explore the social depths of growing pains, with both the friends that Frances loses and gains. You find that many of her friends are looking to explore the arts in some fashion (through literature, music, television, etc.), and you can’t help but realize that each one of these people is trying to find out who they are through their careers and creative voices. Much like the late-bloomer Frances, all of her friends are trying to “grow up” while avoiding the pitfalls of guilt and failure.
It’s a sweet story because of how funny and silly the film can be in one scene, and the next providing an examination into the loneliness and isolation felt by those with the biggest smiles and the loudest laughs. It also serves as a memento that a great friendship is a tough thing to replace, despite career successes or personal achievements.
Frances Ha is exemplary in what alternatives independent cinema can provide to the world of comedy. It’s a unique movie with a lot of laughs that lead through the character study of a lost soul into an enriching experience.
After the Belcourt’s screening of the film, Greta Gerwig provided the audience with a “Q&A” session via Skype, letting audience members ask her questions both personal and about the film, an opportunity few other theaters in the area are able to provide. This is why the Belcourt is one of my favorite theaters.
Check out the links below for both the Belcourt’s schedule, as well as the schedule for Frances Ha to keep up with screenings and the latest news from the film.
http://www.franceshamovie.com/
Go see a movie!
