Frances Ha is a modern comic fable that captures the trials and tribulations of a young woman trying to make it in New York City. Like an endearing comedy of errors, Frances throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality diminishes. Directed by Noah Baumbach, the film is a beautiful homage to classic French cinema, but its character feels quintessentially New York. Capturing the romantic spirit of the film in print, Frances Ha tells the story through moments. Edited down to one frame per scene, the book follows a strict structure laying out 688 stills. When assembled in sequence, the images recreate the story and achieve the same cinematic quality in print. Continuity is key to the structure, as the visual dialogue reveals moments full of expression and arresting honesty. On the printed page, the beautiful black-and-white stills appear timeless and pay homage to the oft-forgotten art of cinematography.
