It's guaranteed to top many critics' lists and deserves an Oscar nomination for best screenplay. Frances Ha is the darling breakout indie film of 2013 that only the bitterest critic could loathe. Friday night, at the Coral Gables Art Cinema, the face and soul of that film, Greta Gerwig, will appear via a live Skype Q&A session following that night's 7 p.m. screening. Cinephiles, buy your tickets now.
Besides being the film's star, the 29-year-old Gerwig co-wrote the script with director and boyfriend Noah Baumbach, 43. The movie follows Frances, its lead character, struggling to grow up in a post-college world and an age saturated by a media that perpetuates immaturity. It's a curious collaboration, seeing as Baumbach so aptly captured the same deadlock for his Generation X peers in his brilliant 1995 feature debut Kicking and Screaming. Oh, the questions you could ask...
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- Frances Ha's Greta Gerwig on Lena Dunham, Woody Allen, and Her Dream of Directing
- In Frances Ha, Greta Gerwig Displays Her Colors Like Never Before
But be respectful, and don't be the one to ask how long did the film take to make (cliché and boring!). This movie has so much going on. Consider the brilliant choices in the soundtrack like the music of David Bowie and Harry Nilsson juxtaposed with classic French New Wave soundtrack composer Georges Delerue. If you really want to impress her, mention Leos Carax, the director of Holy Motors (if you know French, for bonus points, mention his Mauvais Sang instead). Then there's the particular shading to the black and white of the film's cinematography. She knows about it.
Ultimately, prepare to be delighted by an actress enjoying a continued ascent into relevant stardom backed by movies she wants to make. Shimmering with the verve of a true passion project, Frances Ha, stands as one of those rare films with humor and depth that makes the most of the lead's talents and intelligence. Gerwig need not hang her reputation on brands or commercial endorsements. She's the real deal. So reserve your tickets, as this is bound to be another sell-out screening at the Coral Gables Art Cinema.
Actress/screenwriter Greta Gerwig will Skype in for a question and answer session following the 7 p.m. screening of Frances Ha on Friday, May 31, at the Coral Gables Art Cinema. Visit gablescinema.com for details and tickets.
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