A 'must-see': 'Happening' is harrowing, timely abortion drama

The lauded French import “Happening” couldn’t be more harrowing – or timely – as it unflinchingly confronts a woman’s right to choose in an era when abortion was not just illegal but a ticket to a long prison sentence for the expectant mother. Writer-director Audrey Diwan fittingly stages it as a blood-soaked horror story for a Parisian college student whose unexpected pregnancy threatens to derail her dream of forging a literary career free of male dependence.

French society tends to regard the aspirations of Anne Duchesne (a sensational Anamaria Vartolomei) as not admirable, but selfish and ungodly. Certainly secondary to doing the “Christian thing” of sacrificing her carefully plotted plans in favor of a “life sentence” of mothering a baby she has zero desire to raise. And how dare a young woman get in this position in the first place, succumbing to her sexual desires with no consideration of the long-term implications?

This sort of sexist thinking perturbs Diwan more than denying a woman the right to rule her body. And you concur, as she transports us back to 1963, when protecting against pregnancy was the assumed responsibility of the woman. And should she become pregnant, it’s also her duty to either carry the child to term or search for a medical solution at a time when the mere mention of abortion sends shudders through every OB-GYN from Cannes to Cherbourg.

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Diwan and the amazing Vartolomei vividly depict the resulting hopelessness, not to mention loneliness, confronting Anne, as she desperately goes it alone in seeking a way out before it’s too late.

Eyes always determinedly pointed forward, Vartolomei cleverly employs varied facial expressions to communicate the fear and frustration of a woman terrified of seeking help from her bourgeois mother, Gabrielle (Sandrine Bonnaire), or close pals, Heliene (Luana Bajrami) and Brigitte (Louise Orry-Diquero), sensing the mere mention of her delicate condition and desires will render her a monster in their parochial eyes. She internalizes every emotion, never once verbalizing the word "abortion." In fact, the only time she nears being rattled occurs when she confronts the baby’s clueless father, who, like a lot of men at the time, cavalierly suggests it’s her “problem.”

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And, by god, she’s going to solve it, even if it means resorting to barbaric DIY methods. And that’s the point of Diwan’s adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s memoir. She wants us to viscerally experience the dangers and desperation of a young woman with nowhere to turn. It’s terrifying, made even more dire in the wake of last week’s leaked Supreme Court opinion threatening to take us back to the dark ages of back-alley abortions performed by dodgy doctors concerned more about confidences and profits than the health of the mother.

To ingrain the import more indelibly, Diwan and cinematographer Laurent Tangy present Anne’s story from a first-person perspective, permitting us to witness every indignity and heartbreak through her eyes and ears. And to draw us even deeper into her mounting angst and frustration, Diwan and Tangy adopt the old-fashioned, narrow 1.33:1 aspect ratio. This not only renders Anne’s experiences more intimate, but also forces us to confront the resulting horrors by providing few options of looking away.

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Accordingly, several scenes are unsettling, not to mention gruesome. “Happening” is most definitely not for the weak of heart. But it’s a must-see given the current political climate. It’s easy for us to voice our opinions on abortion when we’re not the one carrying the baby. The struggles of a woman without the means or inclination to raise a child are not ours, nor are the life-altering consequences. But for a young woman like Anne, it's all too tangible and momentous. In her mind, no matter which path she chooses – the penitentiary or the “prison” of unwanted motherhood – her life is over.

It's Diwan’s belief that placing such a hefty burden on a girl not yet out of college is unfathomable, if not unconscionable. And after absorbing Anne’s perilous tale of anguish and mutilation, it’s difficult not to agree.

'Happening'

Rated: R for disturbing images/material, sexual content, graphic nudity

Cast: Anamaria Vartolomei, Kacey Mottet Klein, Luana Bajrami, Louise Orry-Diquero and Sandrine Bonnaire

Director: Audrey Diwan

Writer: Audrey Diwan

Runtime: 99 minutes

Grade: A

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: French abortion drama 'Happening' is an unsettling, timely drama