FRANCES HA

Director Noah Baumbach excels at Independent dramas with wit and craft such as ‘The Squid and the Whale’ and ‘Greenberg’, the latter starring the wonderful actress Greta Gerwig as the amazing Frances Halladay (hence the Ha). If you haven't seen her yet go see this film and you will fall in love with her – she’s sometimes referred to as a female young Woody Allen due to her awkward funny manner – as she is adorable.

This unassuming and offbeat comedy utilizes Gerwig’s comedic skills to full effect alongside her best friend and comedic sidekick Mickey Sumner (Sting’s daughter) who plays the straight women to Gerwig’s more outlandish humour.

Frances is a woman who apprentices for a dance company and certainly throws herself headlong into her ambitions which aren’t going to be easy to achieve given she’s got little talent and event less social grace.

The film is shot n black and white and plays with Woody Allen’s ‘Manhattan’ and throws around French New wave references throughout. Gerwig could easily be Cleo in Varda’s ‘Cleo From 5 to 7’ but she’s too clumsy for that – she’s a constant on screen and will be glad of that as she’s an incredibly intoxicating and absorbing presence.