Happening

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival

Based on a novel by Annie Ernaux,, the topic of abortion is already becoming a very controversial subject in the past many years. There are many debates about whether abortion is right or wrong. Audrey Diwan takes this serious subject matter and creates a uneasy, intense, but realistic approach about this topic through the lens of an interesting character portrayed by Anamaria Vartolomei who gives an amazing stellar performance throughout this movie. This movie isn't an easy watch because of the brutal nature of what the character is going through and especially a really disturbing third act that made me feel uneasy and quite uncomfortable while watching it. Throughout there are some beautiful camerawork with the 1:33:1 aspect ratio perfectly capturing the 1970s in France, some beautiful production and costume designs, and really good soundtrack. Although, the setting at times didn't feel like the 70s because the movie didn't explore it's time period well enough as it should have which was one of the flaws I had with this movie.

As I have to say it again, Anamaria Vartolomei sells throughout this movie with her realistic performance on portraying a character who is lost, somewhat arrogant but also finding a way to solve her issue. Even if it risks her own sanity. Character study films are really interesting as it provides an guide to understand how the human life works throughout many lens. It's often not easy to be really engage with a character but if the writing is great, the character is great. Some problems I have with the movie are that some of the dialogue felt a little clunky as it didn't feel like it fits in the 1970s time period and some of the supporting characters felt like they had nothing to do with the movie. Almost as if they could have just been removed from the final cut honestly.

Overall, this was a really good adaptation from director Audrey Diwan and I really look forward to seeing more films from here. I believe there's a great potential of French female filmmakers coming soon in the near decade.

Rating: B+

Tight 100m adaptation of the Annie Ernaux novel, with a terrific performance by the lead actress. Will watch future Diwan movies.

Sure, with US heading back to medieval times on abortion, there is every bit of contemporary relevance. But that is not at all the point here. Diwan wants to make the pride and anguish of the young woman real to you, no preaching attempted or necessary. Cinematically, she succeeds.

The genre of great abortion movies is pretty small, one thinks of the Romanian 4 months 3 weeks and 2 days, but this one is near the top. Good news is, real Ernaux overcame her brutal ordeal and became a decorated French writer. Read her if you can, in the original French if you can.

With over one thousand reviews on IMDB, this may be the most difficult one I will ever write. The timing is impeccable, as here in America, the landmark Roe vs Wade decision has turned the nation into a state by state battleground regarding the freedom to choose whether or not to have an abortion. As a pro choice Catholic, I am in disagreement with the views of my church. The film portrays a young woman in a France of the 1960s, when abortion was illegal. Some of the scenes are quite graphic and disturbing. The lead actress is outstanding and the story compelling. I am sure that Happening will receive an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign movie.

... is clearly not the question, as we wander through a world that started out with such regression, though the thoughts that linger in our heads are more for education, of traditions that left ignorance brainwashed that there's damnation, sometimes the blinkers seem to stay in place regardless of enlightening, which if you're free and progressive - will only leave you frightening.

Performances combined with a belief that things can always change for the better, no matter what those circumstances are, make this an unmissable piece of great historical stepping stone foundational film making.

Following the tale of a young student who becomes pregnant in the France of 1963, where abortion is a serious crime punishable by prison, this is a powerful and brilliantly executed film, gripping and often very hard to watch as it's unflinching in its depictions of the difficult and sometimes harrowing experiences the young woman is forced to go through. Told from the point of view of the main character in close up and close quarters, it's a vivid journey, superbly written and directed by Audrey Diwan and with a stunning central portrayal by Annamaria Vartolomai.