Happening – Raw and Hard to Watch
Director: Audrey Diwan
Writer: Marcia Romano, Audrey Diwan (Screenplay) Annie Ernaux (Novel)
Starring: Anamaria Vartolomei, Kacey Mottet Klein, Lunan Bajrami, Louise Orry-Diquero, Louise Chevillotte
Plot: An adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s eponymous novel, looking back on her experience with abortion when it was still illegal in France in the 1960s.
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Happening starts when Anne Duchesne (Vartolomei) learns she is pregnant. She doesn’t know how, she can’t afford to have a child either. Wanting to finish college, she starts looking got a solution for her situation.
As the weeks pass, Anne becomes desperate to find a solution. Knowing it is still illegal in 1960s France, she turns to more dangerous methods. Ones that could cause more damage to her long term.
Thoughts on Happening
Happening is a drama that will look at the difficult environment that 1960s France created. The one where abortion was illegal, leaving a young woman helpless when she becomes pregnant. Anne is left helpless, knowing she can’t turn to anyone. Seeing her grades drop, her friends being pushed away. Being left to go through this alone.
This is a hard to watch movie, because of the subject matter. We are put through some graphic and disturbing scenes. Scenes are showing the horrors women would have had to go through during the time. One that would have been a lot safer in the more modern era.
Anamaria Vartolomei is fantastic in the leading role. Bringing the raw emotions, pain and suffering Anne went through. In the supporting cast and performance, we have characters that will help move the story along. Showing the alone side that Anne is left with.
Final Thoughts – Happening is a difficult, tough and raw movie to watch.