{"id":140850,"date":"2022-04-16T17:39:45","date_gmt":"2022-04-16T07:39:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/?p=140850"},"modified":"2022-04-15T15:01:03","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T05:01:03","slug":"happening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/happening\/","title":{"rendered":"Happening – movie review"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1963, abortion was illegal in France. Happening is a harrowing tale about an intelligent student who unexpectedly falls pregnant but has to keep it a secret for fear of what could happen to her.<\/p>\n

Her name is Anne Duchesne (Anamaria Vartolomei) and she is 23. She hangs around with her gal pals, Brigitte (Louise Orry-Diquero) and Helene (Luana Bajrami) and like others their age they talk about boys. Then when her period doesn\u2019t come on time Anne pays a visit to a doctor, only to discover \u2013 much to her alarm (although by then she suspects it) \u2013 that she is carrying a child. At that stage she is only three weeks into her pregnancy. The film follows Anne\u2019s frantic endeavours to find a solution to her \u201cproblem\u201d in the weeks and months that follow.<\/p>\n

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She lives in a dorm and visits her parents regularly, but she can\u2019t tell them that she is pregnant because anyone who aids Anne\u2019s endeavours to abort faces jail time. So even her closest friends abandon her. The guy who knocked her up in a casual encounter is no help and a male friend tries to take advantage of the situation. Anne\u2019s studies, that she is so desperate to continue, suffer.\u00a0 Her literture professor Bornec (Pio Marmai), who saw her as a fellow teacher in future, now can\u2019t see her passing her university entrance exams. When he asks what is going on, she refuses to tell him.<\/p>\n

As she reaches the 10 and then 12-week mark, Anne\u2019s options have almost closed entirely. She feels increasingly isolated and abandoned.<\/p>\n

Happening is a compelling movie, but a very difficult watch. Anamaria Vartolomei is superb in the lead role, displaying the full range of emotions.\u00a0 I felt her frustration and fear, and metaphorically rode every bump. Her mood shifts as door after door closes. I also appreciated the naturalistic representation of the dutiful professor by Pio Marmai. His character tries to understand what\u2019s going on, but retains a professional distance.<\/p>\n