Mistress America

"From Strangers to Sisters."

2015 1h 24m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 610

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A college freshman cures her disappointment and loneliness by allowing herself to be pulled into the wacky schemes of her future stepsister.

“From Strangers to Sisters.”

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Cast

Greta Gerwig
Brooke Cardinas
Lola Kirke
Tracy Fishko
Matthew Shear
Tony
Jasmine Cephas Jones
Nicolette
Heather Lind
Mamie-Claire
Michael Chernus
Dylan
Cindy Cheung
Karen
Kathryn Erbe
Stevie

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Noah Baumbach
Writers: Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, Brazil

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

84 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 11 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Brazil.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Noah Baumbach, shot by Sam Levy. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Dean Wareham. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jennifer Lame shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Greta Gerwig and Lola Kirke and Matthew Shear carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "From Strangers to Sisters.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Noah Baumbach directs. Sam Levy behind the camera. Dean Wareham scores. Jennifer Lame cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America, Brazil. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

184 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 11 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Brazil.
4Directed by Noah Baumbach, shot by Sam Levy. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Dean Wareham. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Jennifer Lame shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Greta Gerwig and Lola Kirke and Matthew Shear carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "From Strangers to Sisters.".
9IMDB entry: tt2872462 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 8 themes, including "new york city", "chess", "female friendship", "sister".

The technical file

Cinematography: Sam Levy
Original score: Dean Wareham
Editing: Jennifer Lame
Production design: Sam Lisenco
Costume design: Sarah Mae Burton
VFX supervisor: Andrew Lim
Sound: Paul Hsu
Runtime: 84 min · 1h 24m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $2,500,431
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Mistress America (2015)

Also by

Noah Baumbach

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Andres Gomez2016-02-23
★ 6/10
Mistress America is a good depict of that character which is like a bonfire (using the same words Tracy use at the end of the picture), which attracts insects with its light only to be burnt and which brights strong to be completely consumed. Only paying attention to itself and putting all the world in accordance to its needs. The script is brilliant and the cast is well chosen and performs well. However, this story around this character and around the starting of adulthood and chasing of dreams is not really appealing to me. Somehow boring ...
Reno2016-04-04
★ 8/10
A sudden sparkling change in a moody life. The second collaboration between the director and Greta Gerwig. I just love their works, together they write awesome story and create a cinematic magic. Kind of rare filmmakers, only a very few from the past to compare these two to them. It was another quirky comedy, especially if you liked 'Frances Ha' you would like this as well. I hope they would come for the third time to complete 'An Untalented Girl from NYC' trilogy. It was not as good as the previous film, but nothing short of awesome entertainment. I am surprised a few of those who liked that movie did not favour it. I knew it would be a chick comedy, accordingly, I was not expecting beyond that. But like all the time when I decide to watch a movie, I wanted it to be a better entertainer than the one I saw in the earlier. That's what everyone do, it was like the sea tides, the rise and fall is inevitable. Some would like it and some won't, but to me it was a very good. Unlike 'Frances Ha', here there are two lead characters, both are young adult women, but the entire narration was from one person's perspective. That is, a college freshman Tracy. How her life follows, especially after meeting a girl who's soon-to-be her step-sister. As in a new place and socially inept, she finds her way to be joyous and adventurous, meets some new people and makes them friends. But how long this unplanned pleasure remains with her and what are all changes makes to her rest of the life is the remaining movie. "I am so impressed by you and so worried for you at the same time." It was a simple and soft narration, but engaging characters and well paced with a chain of fine comedies. Apart from writing and direction, the supporting cast was the best feature. It was a tiny twist at the end, but extremely essential to break the steady sequence to bring a diversion. Since that part, I have been wondering about the conclusion, but the makeover was really excellent, I think it was touching yet as I expected. This is Lola Kirke's major role I've seen. She was fantastic and I hope to see her in more films in the lead. It was one of the best on-screen chemistry between her and Greta. There were many beautiful lines spoken between these two, very memorable and quotable ones. With all these top quality, if one still don't like, then he must be bored of watching plenty of similar themes. But that should not be a reason to trash it, because that is his personal issue to deal who's dumping on this one is totally unfair. This movie was unique, fun, touching, heartbreaking, likeable characters, filled with cheerful moments and overall one of the best recent films I have seen. It was more like a friendship movie on trust and commitment. The portrayal was at its best, an example of how a life can turn around in a matter of time. But how much more trustworthy is this sudden change and the best uses of it was the movie that told very nicely. I won't say it is a must see, but personally I feel that way. 8/10
beyondthecineramadome2022-06-20
★ 9/10
Full review: <a>https://www.tinakakadelis.com/beyond-the-cinerama-dome/2021/12/28/the-last-cowboy-mistress-americanbspreview<a> Before there was Lady Bird, there was Mistress America. And despite the fact that Mistress America is not a solo project from Great Gerwig, her artistic footprint is evident in every facet of this movie. Co-written with Noah Baumbach (and directed by Baumbach), Mistress America is about Tracy Fishko (Lola Kirke), an incoming college freshman at Barnard College in New York City. The usual freshman loneliness sets in quickly, and Tracy’s mother encourages her to call her soon-to-be-step-sister, Brooke Cardinas (Greta Gerwig).