A horror movie without the spooky music.
A film about what civilized countries went through years ago (and the United States still is), in which a young university student discovers she's pregnant but doesn't wish to keep the baby. Unfortunately, it's 1963 in France (abortion would be legalized in 1975) and the ordeal she has to suffer through to save her life would break lesser men -- all of them. This film will scar you as it does her, and it should.
It is Happening! Takes place in 1960s France when abortion was still illegal but it's relevant to today and still a huge debate, obviously. It felt like a realistic portrayal on abortion and being alienated by everyone for wanting it. It has strong themes and opinions on freedom, isolation, empowerment and empathy. The camera close-ups are used to make you feel uncomfortable and trapped. A real life horror with graphic disturbing imagery and a strong lead performance by Anamaria Vartolomei. I'm surprised I didn't get emotional at all though. I was empathetic towards her situation but it felt like the character was cold and underdevelopped, like I barely knew anything about her. Maybe a few more scenes of her actually talking and interacting with others and more scenes with her mother would of done it - then again i'm thinking they wanted to portray a situation instead of a character.
There is a vindication of freedom that can be understood as a political perspective on abortion, but that refers more to a woman who wants to make decisions about herself, about her body but also about her desire. And this look at the past that is reflected in a present still surrounded by silence and absence of sorority is where the long shots that accompany Anamaria Vartolomei not only express pain, but above all loneliness that leads to pain.
A real horror film. Absolutely terrifying.
The director here makes an exceptional job in putting the spectator in front of what it is a very difficult and controversial topic. You can easily feel all the discomfort of the situation, and all the complexity involved. Not sure it is 100% historically correct, however I also praise the fact that, whatever it is your idea on abortion, the film does not take any bias at all (at least according to my interpretation), even if superficially it may seem.
Review by JoJoConejoBlockedParent2022-03-31T00:02:35Z
This, I think, is what cinema is all about: empathy.
Telling stories which allow you to see other people's points of view, struggles, daily life, happiness or sadness... and learn from them. Expand your worldview and exercise your "mental muscle", keeping it trained in being open minded, in accepting new information and challenging yourself and your ideas.
I always believed in abortion being a right, but I never had many opportunities to see it in such a deep, personal, harsh yet sensitive way, how it affects a woman on so many levels.
The emotion that struck me the most was loneliness. How Anne got to deal with the whole "Happening" without being able to open up, to share the weight of the decision, carrying it all by herself - and rather opposed by those surrounding her. Without support, without proper medical care and even simple human closeness.
I know there are many difficult situations which one may face alone (mental health, addiction, trauma...), which are left unspoken and without support. I wish there were more occasions where they are talked about involving the humans, feelings behind them - in the way this movie did.
I got to learn. I got to watch and be shaken - without a manipulation of feelings, which is way too often the Capital Sin when dealing with such sensitive topics. Directors playing or wanting to provoke a reaction, rather than provoking it by showing, by images and voices, by the sheer story on screen.
I got to think once I got out of the cinema and in the time after.
For this I'm grateful and appreciative.
The scene with the pins was hard to watch, and the following exchange at the doctor was one of the most powerful of the movie:
"I'd like to have a child one day. But not at the cost of my life. I could hate that kid".
The scene with her parents listening to the radio, laughing, unaware of what's going on, their life going by parallel to Anne but on another path, was so meaningful.
Not knowing who to trust, people trying to convince her that she's wrong with her life, not being able to find help or someone to trust, the possibility that if the procedure was reported as abortion she could get in jail, Anne's desperation after the first and 2nd attempt, her pain, her fear... so so many shades not taken into account when talking about this subject in the public discourse