Cinema Classics Seminar: FRANCES HA (2012)
Schedule
Thu Nov 20 2025 at 06:30 pm to 09:30 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Bryn Mawr Film Institute | Bryn Mawr, PA
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Thursday, November 20, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm Instructor: Rachel McCabe, Ph.D., LaSalle University
Greta Gerwig stars as the title character of FRANCES HA (2012), a millennial coming-of-age film exploring the comedy and frustration of protracted adolescence. Frances Halladay, a 27-year-old dancer, finds herself unable to afford her apartment when her college friend Sophie moves to a new neighborhood. This shift in living situations—and the accompanying shift in her relationship with Sophie—prompts an exploration of Frances’ instability in her present circumstances, as well as her future.
The film became a staple of the “mumblecore” movement of the 2000s and early 2010s, a sub-genre of independent films known for their small budgets, naturalistic dialogue, and focus on adolescence and young adulthood. Influenced by the French New Wave, Frances Ha uses consumer-grade cameras paired with precise cinematography to create a breezy, beautiful portrait of a young woman in the throes of change.
FRANCES HA proved to be a pivotal work in Gerwig’s career, as she united with director Noah Baumbach in the composition of the film’s script. Their creative partnership would yield further success with MISTRESS AMERICA and the 2023 smash BARBIE, while FRANCES HA’s writing style also laid the groundwork for Gerwig’s solo output as writer/director of LADYBIRD and LITTLE WOMEN.
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Where is it happening?
Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 W Lancaster Ave,Bryn Mawr,PA,United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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