Frances Ha!

• Frances is an aspiring dancer who has been rejected from the New York City Ballet.
• What are key elements of cinematography in Frances Ha?

  Black and white:

  Reference back to the French, realist, unromanticised life

  
  

  Framing:

  Begins with two shots of Frances and Sophie and then Frances is alone in the frame to indicate her loneliness and lack of support
• What are key elements of cinematography (shots) in Frances Ha?

  Wide shot of New York, adds to aesthetic feel

  Always in same shot and physically touching in some way, introducing friendship
• What are key elements of mise-en-scene in Frances Ha?

  Intertitles:

  detailing addresses split the film into sections which direct our attention which direct our attention to Frances' journey in the search for home
• What are key elements of mise-en-scene (setting) in Frances Ha?

  Contrast of wide-open spaces of the park and streets of NY and closeness/intimacy of small cosy apartment

  
  

  Large spaces reflect what will happen to their relationship

  
  

  Cosiness of apartment reflects comfortable and closeness of friendship
• What are key elements of mise-en-scene (props) in Frances Ha?

  All props seen in interior in opening sequence reflect what Frances enjoys doing e.g reading, cooking but also shows differences between her and Sophie

  
  

  (Sophie is knitting while Frances is reading) foreshadows differences later in film

  
  

  Props in exterior location show shared passions e.g the banjo show, shared love for music, and their playfighting
• What are key elements of mise-en-scene (costume) in Frances Ha?

  Costume is opening is very relaxed and free flowing - reflects relaxed nature of their friendship

  
  

  Loose clothes also shows Frances' passion for dance and her VERY relaxed nature which makes it difficult for people to connect with her
• What are key elements of editing in Frances Ha?

  Montage:

  Used in the opening to give an intimate snapshot of their friendship and establish territory of homosocial relationship

  Establishes idea of a character driven narrative and always directs attention back to Frances

  
  

  Long take:

  Sense of realism and social embarrassment

  
  

  Lack of continuity features:

  (establishing shots) we feel as disorientated as Frances does

  
  

  Frame shots:

  Roughly the same length of time - quite fast paced, matches with everyday life
• What are key elements of sound in Frances Ha?

  Music of George Delerue is used from FNW films

  Sets fast paced youthful optimism and fun at the opening

  
  

  Theme for friendship with Sophie which is nostalgic and melodic suggesting that despite events of screen - the friendship will endure

  
  

  Musical score and then turns asynchronous, initially diagetic when Sophie plays the guitar - doesn't match with montage - feel of uncertainty
• What are the key representations in Frances Ha?

  Femininity + concept of young adult:

  
  

  Film is aware of criticisms of the fecklessness of the post-college generation, which tends to focus on entitlement.

  Film encourages a more sympathetic portrayal
• What are the key aesthetics in Frances Ha?

  FNW:

  
  

  Tone and energy of the FNW: music, montage, distancing techniques and pacing.

  
  

  Alongside the humour of Woody Allen with some focus on dialogue: a tone of irony, significant lines delivered in a throwaway style which becomes very quotable.
• What are the key elements of social context?

  Sense that the American Dream has to be reassessed in the context of this generation and a new sense of individuality that redefines success.

  
  

  Traditional support structures such as marriage and the family are no longer working:

  Instead, Frances decides to be self-reliant while still maintaining the idea of 'your person' a homosocial relationship
• What are the key elements of spectatorship and ideologies?

  Gerwig's performance aligns you with Frances - seems genuine when others are false

  
  

  However, she can be irritating so some spectators may not want to give their allegiance to her

  
  

  Ironic and self-conscious tone of the film can create distance between film and spectator
• What are some examples of mumblecore conventions?

  -independent films

  -naturalistic acting and dialogue

  -black and white cinematography

  -low-budget film production

  -real location shooting
• What influenced mumblecore?


  FNW 1960 films - ones that focused on romantic intrigues of characters with lengthy conversations

  Manhattan (1979) Woody Allen film

  Cheaper filmmaking technology
• What can be seen in the scene of Frances and Sophie playfighting?

  Black and white cinematography

  
  

  Long shot
• What does the playfighting scene connote?

  Highlights the awkward, nerdy, childlike quality of the genre and Frances' & Sophie's friendship
• What are some elements of spectatorship in the playfighting scene?

  There may be alignment and recognition from the spectator towards Frances as 'happy go lucky
• comedy drama


  a subgenre of drama that uses comic or satirical situations to

  show the emotional and relational development of realistic

  characters
• Comedy drama conventions


  -Ordinary situations

  -Realistic characters who develop over the course of the

  narrative

  -Depictions of real life/the daily grind

  -Real world urban settings

  -Highlighting social issues

  -High key lighting

  -Everyday clothing
• Mainstream films


  Productions that are distributed to cinemas across the globe for wide release
• Ideology


  A set of ideas that compose one's goals, expectations and actions
• Post-Feminism


  Feminist ideology finally becoming "common sense"
• French New Wave


  Is a French art film movement which emerged in the late 1950s. The movement was characterised by its rejection of traditional filmmaking conventions in favour of experimentation and a spirit of iconoclasm (iconoclasm = challenging cherished

  beliefs, institutions or values).

  Explored new approaches to editing, visual style, and narrative - engagement with the social and political aspects of the era- use of irony or exploring existential themes.

  Most influential movements in the history of cinema
• millennials


  millennials are people who reached young adulthood in the early 21st century. They were born between 1981 and 1994, and are currently between 29 and 42 years old.
• Homosociality


  same-sex relationships that are not of a romantic or sexual

  nature such as friendship or mentorship
• Spectator


  The Film Studies way of saying 'audience
• Spectatorship


  How films address individual spectators through particular

  shots, editing, music and performance, etc as well as narrative

  and genre to engage their interest and emotions
• Demographics


  When media producers study the breakdown of their target

  audiences based on variables in age, ethnicity, gender,

  economic status* or class, level of education, hobbies and

  interests, and lifestyle choices
• Psychographics


  Psychographic profiling targets spectators using psychological

  rather than demographic characteristics.
• The movie features a mix of dialogue-heavy scenes and quieter moments that allow the audience to connect with the characters' emotions.
• It also touches on topics like unemployment, financial instability, and the challenges faced by young adults today.
• Director


  Baumbach
• Released In


  2012
• Co-writer 


  Greta Gerwig
• Inspired by


  French New Wave
• Sound


  -Naturalistic - diegetic

  -Soundtrack (used sparingly mainly to transition certain scenes)
• Spectator- Frances


  Encouraged to align themselves with Frances

  relatable

  BUT

  may find her annoying and immature
• Spectator- Patch


  Plays role of antagonist

  disliked because interferes with Frances and Sophie

  Wealthy- Frances comments on this a few times
• Spectator- Benji


  Represented as the ideal man