agmtw logo
search
Happening (2021)

Happening (2021)

Set nearly 60 years ago, this realistically harrowing abortion drama still rings true today

The Very Best

8.6

Movie

France
French
Drama, History
2021
AUDREY DIWAN, FEMALE DIRECTOR
Alice de Lencquesaing, Anamaria Vartolomei, Anna Mouglalis
100 min

What it's about

France, 1963. Anne is a bright young student with a promising future ahead of her. But when she falls pregnant, she sees the opportunity to finish her studies and escape the constraints of her social background disappearing. With her final exams fast approaching and her belly growing, Anne resolves to act, even if she has to confront shame and pain, even if she must risk prison to do so.

The take

It's heartbreaking to realize that Happening, a film set in 1960s France tracking a young woman's journey to dangerously and desperately terminating her pregnancy, is still very much relevant and relatable to this day. Around the world, abortion is still inaccessible, if not completely illegal, and women still struggle to lay full claim to their bodies. A lot of girls grow up with pregnancy statistics meant to instill fear, but Happening brings all that to brilliant life in intimate and unrestrained detail. The fears and wants of our protagonist Anne (played precisely by Anamaria Vartolomei) are palpable throughout. Nothing is held back in this film, and if you find yourself sick in parts, then it has achieved its goal of realistically conveying what it's like to stay alive in a society that fails to recognize your needs. 

 

Comments

Add a comment

Your name

Your comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

9.0

System Crasher (2019)

A tale of trauma and one of the most talked about movies on Netflix in 2020.

9.0

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

A romance from France like no other

8.2

Divines (2016)

Half female buddy movie, half French gangster thriller

9.0

Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)

Raw and absorbing drama with two unbelievably gripping lead performances

9.0

Manon of the Springs (1986)

Continuing the story of Jean de Florette, Manon of the Springs follows a quiet young woman who must avenge her father and protect the springs from two crooked men

7.5

Things to Come (2016)

A beautiful, bittersweet portrait of resilience

8.5

Vagabond (1985)

In a series of flashbacks, this drama traces the final steps of a transient woman on her uncharted journey across the French countryside to her lonely end

7.9

Toni Erdmann (2016)

7.9

Fair Play (2023)

You can't go wrong with the thrill of losing money, power, and love, all in one film

7.5

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.