Title
Why is it called Frances Ha?
shareFrom your question, I will assume that you have not seen the film, but here's a fairly straight answer that is an ever-so-slight spoiler.
It's the very last scene that gives the title screen time; it has to do with her new mailbox. Besides the literal reason her full name becomes truncated, there may be symbolism too. Something along the lines of needing to be flexible, or "making do", to accommodate one's dreams. BUT it also represent sheer laziness; doing the minimum to get by; while "Ha" may imply laughing at the situation.
Either way, Frances could've rewritten her name in smaller font to be fully viewable.
Who knows...the director probably thought the last scene was cute and quirky that way. I think the film tries too hard to be a hipster flick in a unnecessary black and white, when it didn't have to. I would've enjoyed it more in color and without it trying too hard in places.
Ah, gotcha. I've only watched the first half. Need to finish it. Thanks!
shareSPOILERS AHEAD
I thought that the final sequence, in which she shortened her name for her new apartment building threw the rest of the movie into perspective, and also helped me to see the arc of the story a bit more clearly.
For most of the film Frances is fizzy, optimistic, doesn't restrict herself and knows what she wants from life, she wants to dance and can't see compromise as an option. She initially refuses when her boss offers her a desk job.
In the final ten minutes, though, we see she has taken on her bosses advice, she has the desk job and although she is choreographing a troupe (and it's great to watch her success there) her smile is cut short, she has compromised and given up on her dream. She's also made up with her friend but compromised there too, accepting that her friend has chosen married life.
So, the initial Frances Hallady we meet in this movie is stunted, shortened, shrunken, but she more or less OK with it. There's a bit of genius in using the name tag as a metaphor for Frances' growth into adulthood and change of personality. As we grow, we have to leave some childhood dreams and aspirations behind.
Now I'm wondering whether there's any significance in the fact that the part of Frances not shown is "lady" . . . .
I like your thoughts. Another point that occurred to me is that (at least partly because of taking the path of least effort) Frances chooses to leave her complete first name, truncating the arguably (especially re. mail delivery) more important last name. She certainly could have started over, either writing the entire name small enough to fit, or just using the initial "F" in front of her complete last name. What does her choice between the two names say about her values and sense of self? I doubt I'd have thought to notice your point about the missing part being "lady." Good on you.
Multiplex: 100+ shows a day, NONE worth watching. John Sayles' latest: NO distribution. SAD.
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