I finally saw Frances Ha, and I think that Frances Ha is the kind of film that benefits from repeated viewings. The first time that I saw Frances Ha, it was like life-a lot happens, and you’re not sure what is pivotal while it is happening, but in retrospect, you realize that something that seemed casual was actually pivotal and what seemed so important was nothing in the long run. The second time that I watched it, I could appreciate how what initially seemed to be Baumbach’s stab at the mumblecore genre was actually a finely crafted, disciplined journey on the road to becoming one’s self and separating one’s identity, not the child from the parents or lovers from the significant other, but close friends.
Frances Ha is one of the few times that Baumbach only explores friendship and identity without the main character being in a romantic or at least sexual relationship. Frances Ha perfectly captures the quiet, but unavoidable betrayal of discovering facts about your friend from casual acquaintances. Frances Ha vigorously examines the moment where dream meets reality, potential confronts ability and enthusiasm becomes dedication.