powerful, suspenseful & devastating. a raw depiction of an experience that i won’t ever be able to fully understand, but one that i know many people have been, and still are, forced to go through.

This film depicts painful reality of being a woman. Tangled between life's pressures and expectations of the society, left alone to fight for the rights to her own body, main character embarks on a journey to find herself an identity that is more than a good student, a lover or a housewife. Almost too painful to watch, yet worth it.

As "Happening" (2021 release from France; 100 min.) opens, it's some time in the early 1960s in France, and we are introduced to several young women, students at the local university, who are getting ready to go out on the town. One of them is Annie (or Anne). Then later, Annie goes to see a doctor as her period is late. The doctor informs her that she is pregnant, to Annie's shock. She asks the doctor "to do something" but he flat-out refuses, as abortion is illegal and carries a penalty in jail... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie. Couple of comments: this is the latest from French-Lebanese writer-director Audrey Diwan ("Losing It"). Here she brings the real life tale of what happens to a young woman in her early 20s who gets pregnant in a time and space where abortion is entirely illegal without any exceptions (France in the early 60s). Watch how Annie gets no support, zero, from anyone around her including doctors, family and friends, and even her lover. Watch how increasingly desperate Annie becomes as the weeks pass. Please note that some scenes are very difficult to watch. The US premiere of this film came at the 2022 Sundance film festival, just over a year ago, and mere months before the US Supreme Court overruled Re v. Wade, with the GOP subsequently enacting strict anti-abortion laws in multiple states. For shame. Do you want to go back more than half a century to the times when men in power decided that "this isn't a woman's issue"? Welcome to the GOP of 2022! As a complete aside, this film is based on the book of the same name by acclaimed French author Annie Ernaux (born Duchesne), who just last year won the Nobel Prize in Literature. "Happening" is currently rated 99% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason. It is a gut-wrenching abortion drama, now more relevant issue than ever. I had been clamoring to see this film, and finally it started streaming on Hulu just yesterday. I watched it right away. If you are in the mood for a top-notch if devastating abortion drama, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Not uplifting but very graphic and well acted. Hard to say if I'd recommend it- this would depend on the person interested in the story.

A powerful, moving, and simple film that plainly shows the effects of an unplanned pregnancy on a young woman living in France before safe and legal abortions were available. Her mood, her schoolwork, her friendships, and her relationships with her family are all strained as she struggles to cope with the situation and seeks out a way to end her pregnancy. The filmmaking is not flashy but it is good.

it is an easy example of roller coaster destiny of human being.

A very hard watch. Slow, slow, slow. Ending saved it, but really I wouldn't recommend. A whole lot of nothing.

Absolute must-see in this period of time where women's rights are under attack all over the world.

An educational film. The camera lens follows every second of the main character, a college student who experiences moments of great tension when she finds out that she is pregnant, which can change her life forever. By not accepting that situation, she follows a route full of risks and sorrows, the dilemma between life and death, between the ethical and the immoral; in a female environment where she feels cornered. Despite her personal stubbornness, it is clear the great responsibility that each woman has to face towards her sexuality and the emotional and social consequences of it. All this boils in the protagonist's mind, and she lets us know in each scene, in each movement of this girl followed by the camera and everyone's eyes.

Excelente película, muy actual a pesar de ser de ambientada en los 70s.

Only one thing interested me: In which scene did all those people faint? Abortion scene or toilet scene? Because Happening nothing adds new to this kind of movie except the toilet scene. The toilet scene is "the scene" that makes the movie significant. Never saw something like that. But I read that most people fainted on the abortion scene. Probably those people didn't watch 2014, The Tribe. The movie has the most intense abortion scene which gave me the goosebumps. Long story short... Happening has the same idea as "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" but adds nothing to the story better than its example. The Toilet scene was a shocker, yes. But unfortunately has nothing special more than that. At least for me. Movies have different meanings to its audience. For those who suffered something like this, it could be a masterpiece.

Interesting realism and script, in addition to the great performance of the main actress. Great French film.

A theme that is really difficult to explain, but nevertheless conveyed in an intelligent, brilliant and engaging way

It is clear why "Happening" has received such notoriety and award notice since it's premieres at film festivals and critic screenings. This is powerful filmmaking by Audrey Diwan, her crew and the wonderful cast. Nowhere is this more evident than in the exceptional performance by lead actor Anamaria Vartolomei. She brings such authenticity to the role as she shows at once Anne's confidence in her intelligence and academic skills. Then there's the confusion and frustration of a young woman feeling at a loss as to how to deal with such a crushing weight of personal crisis. And ultimately she shows us the terror and tragic nature that comes with her decisions. It's masterful work by this young actor. The other young actors as well as those playing Anne's parents and her professor are all impressive as well. I know only Sandrine Bonnaire from Agnes Varda's "Vagabond" among them. Much of the credit, of course, goes to Diwan and her co-writers of this taut, engrossing screenplay. The portrayal of young people of this age range seems very realistic, with great empathy for their foolishness, their awkardness, the burgeoning confidence of some with the fear and uncertainty of others. I hope to see more by Diwan and Vartolomei in the future. 4 stars

An absolutely harrowing viewing experience, in the best way. The movie makes you feel pain and real anxiety through an incredibly strong lead performance and a powerful story. The French really know how to shoot great cinema. I've said it once and I'll say it again, a movie that makes you feel strong emotions deserves the fabled 5 star rating. You can't watch this movie without having powerful emotions awake inside you.

What really disturbs is the reality that we do not confront thanks to modern life we are accustomed to. It is very sad to know that some places in the world still have these kinds of restrictions on behalf of someone else's body. It is generally the case for a French movie to be striking, disturbing and ultrarealistic at the same time. This movie goes beyond and it really affected me as a male. I cannot imagine how women watch those scenes. Camera was generally in close up and I found it really suitable for the message delivered. We are very close to this woman and this closeness helps us to understand her better. I just did not like the "pure evil" representation of maleness, and the role of male characters in the story were only reflecting the loneliness the main character feels. Other than that they do not have a presence, they are only significant to create that "happening".

One of the best films of the year for me. Can't fault a thing, the standout elements were the measured and honest performances of a stellar cast, supported by exceptional editing and cinematography.

The anti abortion crowd will, predictably, hate this movie. Incredibly these same people are,in many cases, against birth control as well. And they seem in denial of the fact that women do become pregnant unintentionally every day. If the only way a woman could become pregnant was on purpose half of us wouldn't be here today.

The graphic nature of it is on purpose. The makers wanted to make a horror story for the pro-choice crowd. Let's be real. the pro-choice viewer wants something that will outrage and horrify them. This movie will definitely do that. There will be a good dopamine rush for them for sure. This will serve as maximum propaganda for the political set. This movie will be deemed "important" and will now doubt get a perfect 100% on RT. Just read the other comments and you will see how effective this particular piece of propaganda is. It was gratuitous and and one-sided. At least it was honest about what lengths people will go through to avoid the life-time responsibility of having a child. While the pro-choice people will get that delicious dopamine high we all crave, the pro-life crowd will be sickened and left wondering who the real monster of the movie is.

...Painfully Realistic...