I haven’t written a post in awhile, but this weekend I watched a film on Netflix that reminded me of why I started this blog and I was inspired to start-up again.

Frances Ha captures in black and white the realities of life in New York City for twenty-somethings with an air of nostalgia mixed with an understanding of the essence of what makes growing up beautiful.

Like many others in its genre, the film tells the tale of a struggling dancer, Frances  (Greta Gerwig), whose dream is simple: to become a member of a respected dance company and to hold on tightly to her best friend, Sophie (Mickey Sumner), and their life of adventure.

The film moves through a sequence of simple daily occurrences that artfully depict the complexities of growing up. Frances is stuck in a world where she cherishes her freedom, but is unable to pay her rent and unwilling to become an adult. Contrasted with Sophie, her wild best friend, whose job in publishing and Wall Street boyfriend quickly steer her into the world of moving for love, taking care of aging relatives, and getting married. Exploring the lives of these two characters, the effects of stagnating in one’s youth become painfully clear, as does the understanding of why we must constantly move forward.

This movie is a must see that will resonate with not just young New Yorkers, but with anyone that has learned what it means to truly become an adult.