Happening (2021)

O'Sullivan calls the film sublime and praises its assured, subtle filmmaking. She singles out its striking long takes and the performances, especially Sandrine Bonnaire's warmth and intelligence.

Jenkins calls the film exceptional, necessary, and politically trenchant. He praises its unsparing depiction of the dangers faced by a young woman seeking an abortion when it was illegal.

Winkelman finds the drama urgent and quietly powerful, while noting it sometimes holds Annie at an emotional distance. She praises its clear-eyed portrayal of how women are left to face the burden of illegal abortion alone.

Tsai finds the film persuasive and urgently relevant, though unlikely to change minds. He praises its vivid, intimate rendering of Anne’s ordeal, especially its unflinching close-up depiction of her attempt to end the pregnancy.

The critic calls it a terrific, vital and enormously moving drama. She especially praises Anamaria Vartolomei’s quietly devastating performance and Audrey Diwan’s intimate direction.

Kemp finds the film powerful, urgent and elegantly told, with a clear sense of its continuing relevance. She particularly praises Anamaria Vartolomei’s performance for conveying Anne’s tenacity and terror without showiness.

Chang praises the film as an urgent, suspenseful drama that becomes a quietly affecting portrait of female solidarity. He singles out Audrey Diwan’s intimate direction and Anamaria Vartolomei’s piercing performance for making Anne’s ordeal gripping and moving.

The critic finds the film gripping and intense, praising its focused, close-quarters portrayal of Anne’s ordeal. Anamaria Vartolomei’s deadpan performance and searching eyes are singled out for conveying the character’s fear and isolation.

Rooney finds the film harrowing, urgent and quietly heroic, and praises its forceful, compassionate account of Annie’s fight for control over her future. He especially singles out Anamaria Vartolomei’s emotionally transparent performance and the film’s restrained handling of its most distressing scenes.

Lodge finds the film quietly devastating, timely and powerful. He especially praises Anamaria Vartolomei’s tightly controlled, vulnerable performance.

The review describes the film as assured but unsparing. It singles out its social-realist approach to Anne’s increasingly desperate search for an abortion.

Brooks calls the film serious, gripping and ultimately honourable. He singles out Anamaria Vartolomei’s intense performance and Audrey Diwan’s claustrophobic framing for praise.

The review presents the film as a compelling, hard-hitting drama. It singles out its snapshot of a young woman risking prison in 1960s France.

Smith finds the film gripping and timely without becoming preachy. He particularly praises Anamaria Vartolomei’s compelling portrayal of Anne’s toughness and underlying unease.

Dargis finds the film an urgent, unsparing account of a young woman seeking an abortion. She singles out Anamaria Vartolomei’s performance for conveying the protagonist’s fear and resolve.

The review presents the film as a harrowing drama. It focuses on a young French student growing increasingly desperate to secure an abortion.

The page is blocked by a browser check, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No praise or complaint from the review is visible.

Lane finds the film’s solitary ordeal hard to endure and at times punitive, though its urgency feels newly significant. He praises the force of its warning about laws that could again drive women to dangerous measures.

Behrooz finds the film a harrowing reminder that bodily agency cannot be taken for granted. She praises Anamaria Vartolomei’s forceful lead performance for grounding its portrait of patriarchal control.

Bunbury considers the film a precise, bravura work that soberly conveys the dangers Anne faces. She particularly praises Anamaria Vartolomei’s unwavering performance and the film’s restrained depiction of the abortion.

Wilkinson finds the film harrowing but compassionate, and ultimately hard to forget. She singles out Anamaria Vartolomei’s portrayal of Anne’s quiet desperation and determination.

Keogan finds the film painfully prescient, portraying the suffering caused by restricting abortion access. She singles out Anamaria Vartolomei’s performance for vividly conveying Anne’s mounting anxiety.

The critic finds the film urgent and affecting, while acknowledging its starkness makes it difficult to watch. They single out Diwan’s immersive, social-realist direction for bringing Anne’s ordeal close to the audience.