This, I think, is what cinema is all about: empathy.
Telling stories which allow you to see other people's points of view, struggles, daily life, happiness or sadness... and learn from them. Expand your worldview and exercise your "mental muscle", keeping it trained in being open minded, in accepting new information and challenging yourself and your ideas.
I always believed in abortion being a right, but I never had many opportunities to see it in such a deep, personal, harsh yet sensitive way, how it affects a woman on so many levels.

The emotion that struck me the most was loneliness. How Anne got to deal with the whole "Happening" without being able to open up, to share the weight of the decision, carrying it all by herself - and rather opposed by those surrounding her. Without support, without proper medical care and even simple human closeness.
I know there are many difficult situations which one may face alone (mental health, addiction, trauma...), which are left unspoken and without support. I wish there were more occasions where they are talked about involving the humans, feelings behind them - in the way this movie did.
I got to learn. I got to watch and be shaken - without a manipulation of feelings, which is way too often the Capital Sin when dealing with such sensitive topics. Directors playing or wanting to provoke a reaction, rather than provoking it by showing, by images and voices, by the sheer story on screen.
I got to think once I got out of the cinema and in the time after.
For this I'm grateful and appreciative.

[spoiler] The scene with the pins was hard to watch, and the following exchange at the doctor was one of the most powerful of the movie:
"I'd like to have a child one day. But not at the cost of my life. I could hate that kid".
The scene with her parents listening to the radio, laughing, unaware of what's going on, their life going by parallel to Anne but on another path, was so meaningful.
Not knowing who to trust, people trying to convince her that she's wrong with her life, not being able to find help or someone to trust, the possibility that if the procedure was reported as abortion she could get in jail, Anne's desperation after the first and 2nd attempt, her pain, her fear... so so many shades not taken into account when talking about this subject in the public discourse [/spoiler]

"Anne" (Anamaria Vartolomei) is a young student studying to be a teacher, when she starts to feel stomach cramps. A visit to the doctor reveals that she is pregnant and the remainder of this drama relates to her decision not to have the baby. That's quite a stance to take in 1960s France where, much like in most of the rest of Europe, abortion is illegal, dangerous - and costly! It was an one-night-stand with "Max" (Julien Frison) that led to her condition, so she goes to visit him to see if he can help, but that's not much use and she finds herself largely alone trying to raise the money needed whilst her natural pre-occupation causes her grades to suffer. Much of the buildup to this autobiographical story is nothing special, to be honest; but for the last twenty minutes it becomes actually quite compelling. It reminded me of Imelda Staunton's excellent "Vera Drake" (2004). Not since then have I seen a film that openly deals with the dangers of backstreet abortions, of the stigma attached to those people who this who saw this as their only practical solution - and Vartolomei delivers her part confidently in what is essentially a strong, single-handed, performance that is quite effective at drawing us into her predicament and at making us think.

Very well executed film that is relevant to the USA right now. Don't let the Republican liars fool you!