A Level Film Studies - Focus Film Factsheet (2012, , USA)

with two-shots of Frances and Sophie and Component 1: Varieties of then Frances is alone in the frame to indicate Film and Filmmaking (AL) her loneliness and lack of support. Component 1 : American film (AS) Mise-en-Scène: • Intertitles detailing addresses split the film Core Study Areas: into sections which direct our attention to Key Elements of Film Form Frances’ journey in the search for home. Meaning & Response The interiors show the nature of her world: The Contexts of Film books, art, music and dance studios and the exteriors show us the familiar of her world: Specialist Study Area: books, art, music and dance studios and Spectatorship the exteriors show us the familiar streets of Ideology (AL) New York referencing back to . Editing Rationale for study • Montage is used at the opening to give Frances Ha is a film about coming of age and an intimate snapshot of the friendship identity, a journey which many A level students and establish the territory of homosocial will be able to identify with. It is also a film relationships. It also establishes the idea of a about friendship and loneliness and takes place character driven narrative and always directs in affluent New York, depicting a lifestyle which attention back to Frances. Long takes create is familiar to students from many popular films a sense of realism and social embarrassment. and TV shows. It is also darkly comic with an There is a lack of continuity editing features ironic tone which will create some interesting such as establishing shots so that we feel discussions in terms of spectator responses. disorientated and rootless as she does. Sound STARTING POINTS - Useful • The music of Georges Delerue is used from Sequences and timings/links films and it sets the Pre-credit montage and then the scene fast paced youthful optimism and fun at in the apartment: the story of us. the opening, there is then a theme for the friendship with Sophie which is melodic Sophie at the dinner party. and nostalgic suggesting that despite events on screen the friendship will endure. CORE STUDY AREAS 1 - STARTING POINTS - Key Elements of Film CORE STUDY AREAS 2 - STARTING Form (Micro Features) POINTS – Meaning & Response Cinematography: Representations • The decision to use black and white is a • Femininity is the focus here along with the reference back to the French. concept of the young adult, the film is very • New Wave and a distancing effect to see aware of the criticisms of the fecklessness of the New York in a new way: ‘familiar and post-college generation which have tended to unfamiliar’ Baumbach. Framing: begins focus on their sense of entitlement and the film

1 A Level Film Studies - Focus Film Factsheet

encourages a more sympathetic portrayal. developed that re-defines success. Traditional support structures are no longer working/relevant Aesthetics (i.e. the ‘look and feel’ such as marriage and the family (although the of the film including visual style, film makes clear that Frances’ family are happy/ influences, auteur, motifs) functional) and a new support through social • The tone and energy of the French New media is rejected by Francis, instead she learns to Wave: music, montage, distancing techniques be self-reliant while still maintaining the idea of and pacing; also with the contemplation and ‘your person’ which is a homosocial relationship, humor of with some focus rather than a sexual relationship – the bond on dialogue: a tone of irony and significant with Sophie is shown to be more important. lines delivered in a throwaway style which nonetheless become very quotable. SPECIALIST STUDY AREA : SPECTATORSHIP AND IDEOLOGY - STARTING POINTS CORE STUDY AREAS 3 - STARTING • Gerwig’s performance aligns you with Frances POINTS – Contexts (also linked to and she often seems genuine when other specialist area of Ideology) characters are false, also she never despairs Social and is always cheerful and optimistic. However • The concept of ‘Millennials’ often portrayed she can be irritating and some spectators may as lazy and selfish: here, the new generation of not want to give their allegiance to her, also young artists, dancers, musicians, film-makers the ironic and self-conscious tone of the film in New York who are not willing to relinquish can create a critical distance between film those goals and the film explores the ways in and spectator which may cause a problem which they are able or willing to compromise with alignment. The intertextual references to fit in with society. A sense that the American to the French New Wave, Manhattan and Dream has to be re-assessed in the context of Girls may increase spectator pleasure this generation and a new sense of individuality or feel too artificial and deliberate.

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