Frances Ha 2013

Frances Halladay is a 27-year-old dancer navigating the vibrant streets of New York City alongside her college best friend, Sophie. However, Frances’s world is turned upside down when Sophie announces her intention to move from Brooklyn to Tribeca with another friend, a place Sophie views as her dream neighborhood. With her aspirations of becoming a successful dancer still just out of reach, Frances finds herself unable to afford their shared apartment and must seek new living arrangements.

Relocating to Chinatown, Frances shares a brief living arrangement with friends Lev and Benji. As time goes on, a rift begins to form between her and Sophie, particularly as Sophie grows closer to her boyfriend, Patch. To make matters worse for Frances, her dance company informs her that her assistance will not be needed for their upcoming Christmas show, further complicating her financial situation. With no other options, she heads back to her hometown of Sacramento to spend Christmas with her family and reconnect with old friends.

During this time, Rachel, a fellow dancer, offers Frances a place to stay temporarily. At a dinner gathering with Rachel’s family, Frances learns from their conversations that Sophie plans to leave her job at Random House. Soon after, Sophie decides to embark on a new adventure, moving to Tokyo with Patch. With an unexpected desire for change, Frances impulsively spends a lackluster couple of days in Paris, financed by her credit card. Once back in New York, she takes on a role as a waitress at Vassar and a resident assistant, though she finds herself overworked and unable to attend classes.

As Frances diligently works, she keeps up with Sophie by reading her blog, which offers glimpses into her life in Tokyo. One evening, while working at an auction, Frances discovers Sophie and Patch are now engaged, only to witness the couple’s tumultuous argument firsthand. With compassion, she allows a distressed Sophie to crash in her dorm room, where Sophie eventually confides in her about the heartbreak of a miscarriage and the pall of dissatisfaction looming over her relationship. Sophie returns to New York the next morning, leaving Frances with a lingering note.

Eventually, Frances finds herself back in Washington Heights, Manhattan. Through time and personal growth, she manages to mend her friendship with Sophie while embracing a fulfilling path as a budding choreographer, teaching dance to children, and juggling a bookkeeping role for her previous dance company. Finally, as she moves into her new apartment, she marks her mailbox with a slip of paper to signify her new beginning. However, a slight twist of fate reveals that her full last name doesn’t fit, leaving her with the simple yet profound moniker: “Frances Ha.”