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Frances Ha

  • 2012
  • R
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
99K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,232
1,036
Greta Gerwig in Frances Ha (2012)
Frances lives in New York, but she doesnÂ’t really have an apartment. Frances is an apprentice for a dance company, but sheÂ’s not really a dancer. Frances has a best friend named Sophie, but they arenÂ’t really speaking anymore. Frances throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality dwindles. Frances wants so much more than she has but lives her life with unaccountable joy and lightness.
Play trailer1:53
6 Videos
97 Photos
Coming-of-AgeQuirky ComedyComedyDramaRomance

A New York woman apprentices for a dance company and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles.A New York woman apprentices for a dance company and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles.A New York woman apprentices for a dance company and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles.

  • Director
    • Noah Baumbach
  • Writers
    • Noah Baumbach
    • Greta Gerwig
  • Stars
    • Greta Gerwig
    • Mickey Sumner
    • Adam Driver
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    99K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,232
    1,036
    • Director
      • Noah Baumbach
    • Writers
      • Noah Baumbach
      • Greta Gerwig
    • Stars
      • Greta Gerwig
      • Mickey Sumner
      • Adam Driver
    • 252User reviews
    • 327Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 49 nominations total

    Videos6

    Theatrical Version
    Trailer 1:53
    Theatrical Version
    Frances Ha
    Clip 0:23
    Frances Ha
    Frances Ha
    Clip 0:23
    Frances Ha
    Frances Ha
    Clip 0:46
    Frances Ha
    Frances Ha: Moving Out (French)
    Clip 2:11
    Frances Ha: Moving Out (French)
    Frances Ha: Clip 2
    Clip 0:44
    Frances Ha: Clip 2
    Frances Ha: Clip 1
    Clip 0:21
    Frances Ha: Clip 1

    Photos97

    View Poster
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    + 93
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    Top cast72

    Edit
    Greta Gerwig
    Greta Gerwig
    • Frances
    Mickey Sumner
    Mickey Sumner
    • Sophie
    Adam Driver
    Adam Driver
    • Lev
    Michael Zegen
    Michael Zegen
    • Benji
    Michael Esper
    Michael Esper
    • Dan
    Charlotte d'Amboise
    Charlotte d'Amboise
    • Colleen
    Grace Gummer
    Grace Gummer
    • Rachel
    Daiva Deupree
    • Waitress
    Isabelle McNally
    Isabelle McNally
    • Random Girl #1
    Vanessa Ray
    Vanessa Ray
    • Random Girl #2
    Justine Lupe
    Justine Lupe
    • Nessa
    Lindsay Burdge
    Lindsay Burdge
    • Dark Haired Girl
    Patrick Heusinger
    Patrick Heusinger
    • Patch
    Marina Squerciati
    Marina Squerciati
    • Waitress at Club
    Christine Gerwig
    • Mom
    Gordon Gerwig
    • Dad
    David Salem
    • Christmas Guest
    Isaac Salem
    • Christmas Guest
    • Director
      • Noah Baumbach
    • Writers
      • Noah Baumbach
      • Greta Gerwig
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews252

    7.498.5K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    9secondtake

    Shorn of the irrelevant, this is beautiful, touching, real

    Frances Ha (2012)

    I liked this film in a kind of interested, warm way as it got going. Its black and white simplicity and its regular people both appeal on the most normal level.

    The more I watched, however, and the more I absorbed the brilliance of the performance by leading actress playing Frances (Greta Gerwig), I became entranced and stunned. This is a great film. A great independent film, without production pretensions, but held together perfectly within its means.

    This is worth making clear—the film makes a virtue of its simple approach. You'll never feel like it's technically compromised. The photography is a subtle, smart black and white. There's even one scene near the end where two people are talking in bed and they chose to use the very minimum of light, so you just barely see their faces. For a long deep conversation. Gorgeous, and effective.

    It's Gerwig who steals the movie, for sure. And she helped write the really sparkling, believable, clever but never too-clever script. It's brilliant stuff. Brilliant. She hits a note of fast transparency, a totally "right" dialog and delivery. Way harder than it seems.

    And the character she plays, Frances, is one of those lovable types where things don't go quite right even with all the best intentions. Most of us identify with that all too well. We have our better selves and we have the reality of where those good intentions have gotten us. And yet she perseveres. She puts up with strange but not unfriendly people around her in one apartment after another, and we get a glimpse of young New Yorkers with all their minor pretensions. Searing and funny and touching.

    Don't be put off by the weird title (the one mistake in making the film) or by the beginning and its slow, restrained monochrome. The film makes the most of it all and is terrific.
    8jackasstrange

    The best film which Woody Allen never made

    Frances Ha is a very good film. And It's almost indisputable that Frances Ha resembles Woody Allen oldest works. The satire against the so-called intellectuals, the satire of a - perhaps ridicule aspect of society, that is the obsession with organization and patronizing, and the fact that the character - the protagonist - is an allegory, each one of these aspects are present in Frances Ha. Of course, there is some originality on here. The black and white choice, the occasional 80s beat which pops out of nowhere and ends fitting perfectly the scene, the great acting by Greta Gerwig - all of these are aspects which makes Frances Ha an unique film. And the dialogs are nothing like in Woody's films - sure about that. There is some surreal dark- humor on them, and adds to the uniqueness of the film in general. Overall, very well written, acted and directed.

    Certainly recommended. 8.5/10
    8generationfilm

    Frances Ha- A Disarmingly Sweet and Perceptively Witty Reflection on Mid-Twenties Malaise from Auteur Noah Baumbach

    Auteur filmmaker Noah Baumbach has specialized throughout his career in humorlessly reflecting on the various purgatories in our lives, or rather those lost years of stasis where the unknowns of life's supposed plans hit the unknowns within ourselves head on. His study of post-collegiate malaise in Kicking and Screaming was the genesis of his uniquely quirky vision—a blend of Whit Stillman's observationally verbose wit and Woody Allen's hilarious yet humanist portraits—that has carried on to other notable character studies he's penned, such as the dysfunctional family drama The Squid and the Whale and the mid-life crisis comedy Greenberg. It was clear in the most sincere moments of the film Greenberg that Baumbach had a creative chemistry with one of its stars Greta Gerwig which has resulted in a new collaborative effort between them to create Baumbach's latest poignantly comedic film entitled Frances Ha, an energetically funny yet undeniably relatable contemplation on the aloof mid-twenties condition. Utilizing crisp black & white cinematography capturing the naturalistic backdrops of New York City, Sacramento, and Paris, Frances Ha possesses an alluring charm mostly through Greta Gerwig's charismatic performance but also in the film's embodiment of French New Wave revivalism that allows substance to shine in even the most monotonous of human interactions. This short and sweet tale on the ambiguity of adult life highlights the changing nature of responsibility, friendship, and love with a surprisingly modest and heartfelt genuineness rarely experienced in film. Though it might have some minor similarities to Lena Dunham's HBO show "Girls" there is no denying that Frances Ha is distinctly Baumbach in character design, cinematic style, and written cleverness. Protagonist Frances proclaims that she "loves things that appear as mistakes" which on its face is the eloquent sentiment that summarizes the film's genuine depiction of mid-twenties paralysis in the face of responsibility. Frances Ha ranks highly in Noah Baumbach's worthwhile filmography because it is probably his most accessible, authentically charming, and least pretentious film all thanks to the screen writing aid and engaging performance from Greta Gerwig.
    7jordondave-28085

    Some memorable dialogue exchanges stand out

    (2012) Frances Ha COMEDY DRAMA

    Greta Gerwig's equivalent updated version of "1978 Girlfriends", except that in this movie her character plays a struggling dancer as opposed to a struggling photographer. Gerwig who was also credited as co-writer along with Noah Baumbach second of her four movies with him. Greta Gerwig stars as title character "Frances Ha", once her best friend, Sophie (Mickey Sumner) and long time live-in roommate decides to move out of their apartment, so that Sophie can live closer to her new boyfriend, Frances begins to struggle to find another roommate or to find another place.

    Again, the positive rating is the result of the unique moments, improvised dialogue exchanges from director Noah Baumbach and his main star actress Greta Gerwig.
    7evanston_dad

    Dreaming the Impossible Dream

    I'm at a phase in my life where I generally have little patience for stories about adults who refuse to grow up. So I had some frustration with "Frances Ha," in which Greta Gerwig plays a woman child who crashes with friends and sticks to her increasing unrealistic dream of being a dancer. But what saved "Frances Ha" for me was that I suspect Gerwig (who co-wrote the script with director Noah Baumbach) and Baumbach intend for us to be frustrated with Frances too. Life is a lot about compromise, and that's something that Frances won't accept until the film's end -- it's not all or nothing, and life can be satisfying without being a dream come true.

    One of the things that did irk me about the movie was its implication that anyone who does seem to have his/her life together is either faking it, skating by on rich parents or vapid. It is actually possible to be both responsible and happy, something that movies, particularly a certain kind of indie movie (of which "Frances Ha" is an example), is reluctant to accept. But I still liked the movie despite its decision to perpetuate that message.

    I can't decide whether or not I like Greta Gerwig, which makes her perfect casting for this role. Something about Frances is warm and winning, but something else is just as annoying. You understand both why people are drawn to her and turned off by her, because that's how I feel about her as an actress.

    Grade: A-

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Frances' parents are played by Greta Gerwig's real-life parents, Gordon Gerwig and Christine Gerwig.
    • Goofs
      At 59:23, Sophie's voice says the words faster than her mouth moves. Particularly near the end of her sentences.
    • Quotes

      Frances: It's that thing when you're with someone, and you love them and they know it, and they love you and you know it... but it's a party... and you're both talking to other people, and you're laughing and shining... and you look across the room and catch each other's eyes... but - but not because you're possessive, or it's precisely sexual... but because... that is your person in this life. And it's funny and sad, but only because this life will end, and it's this secret world that exists right there in public, unnoticed, that no one else knows about. It's sort of like how they say that other dimensions exist all around us, but we don't have the ability to perceive them. That's - That's what I want out of a relationship. Or just life, I guess.

    • Connections
      Featured in Maltin on Movies: The Hangover Part III (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Thème de Camille
      Written and Performed by Georges Delerue

      Courtesy of Igloo Music/Marouani Music/EMI Music Publishing

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 17, 2013 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Brazil
    • Official sites
      • Celluloid Dreams (France)
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Френсіс Ха
    • Filming locations
      • Sacramento, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Pine District Pictures
      • RT Features
      • Scott Rudin Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,069,826
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $137,398
      • May 19, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,975,688
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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