ABSTRACT
Successful new women’s films, such as Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine (2013), confirm the contribution of the star as a significant force in the evolution of the genre. Frances Ha (Noah Baumbach, 2012), revolving around the life decisions of a young woman with artistic aspirations living in New York, exemplifies the agency exercised by the star over the genesis, production and eventual impact of a movie in this genre. The screenplay was co-written by the film’s director (Noah Baumbach) and its star (Greta Gerwig), meaning that the lead actress is literally one of the authors of the film, alongside Baumbach as a recognized authentic indie auteur director. Both enjoyed notable critical successes with previous projects within the context of American independent cinema, including Greenberg (2010), directed by Baumbach, co-starring Gerwig and Ben Stiller; however, Frances Ha was the first project that they did together (they are a couple in their private life as well as being professionally linked). Mark Olsen with regard to Baumbach and Gerwig opined in the Los Angeles Tim es that “the alchemy of their collaboration seems to have brought out something new from both of them,” testifying to the significance of Gerwig’s input. 2 The principle character of “Frances” furnished Gerwig with what Hollywood Reporter described as her “defining performance to date,” 3 despite the fact that she had already “parlayed her deft touch playing blond oddballs in small indie films into work with an impressive roster of filmmakers including Woody Allen, Ivan Reitman and Whit Stillman.” 4
