A real horror film. Absolutely terrifying.

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.

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.

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.