A Masterclass in Female Gaze and Political Choices
The film “Happening” or “L’événement,” as it is known in France, packs a cinematic punch that left the audience reeling, earning the debut director Audrey Diwan the Golden Lion at the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
Anamaria Vartolomei steals the spotlight with her role as Annie, a role that has become a turning point in her acting career. “The camera follows Annie around so closely, looming upon every movement and expression of her so that it will make you afraid of accidentally tumbling inside the screen and sharing in Annie’s anguish,” says a critic about the immersive experience of watching the film.
Adapted from Annie Ernaux’s novel, the film shuns the book’s distant tone, opting instead for a near-visceral cinematic language that holds the audience’s attention from the first frame to the last.
“The tense shots establish a female gaze that refuses to fantasize or overtly sexualize the female body, or bodies, in the course of the film,” notes a reviewer.
“Happening” Becomes a Lesson in Feminist Filmmaking
The film emerges as a paragon of feminist filmmaking, though not without stirring the pot of controversy. It navigates the treacherous waters of illegal abortion with a no-holds-barred approach. “Vartolomei plays her part with due diligence, shining out as the quiet, brilliant student in the class equally well, as a woman selling her gold chain to be able to afford money for her abortion,” mentions a reviewer, highlighting the complexity of her character.
“It is a fantastic social drama that, I firmly believe, deserves a lot of attention for its nuanced participation in the ongoing battles around women’s bodies and abortion rights around the world.”
The Dark Corners of Social Taboos
Be warned: “Happening” is not a film for the faint of heart. It deals with a multitude of social taboos, especially the abortion stigma in France. At times, it can get difficult to unpack the loaded narrative. So, what’s the story?
Annie’s Paradoxical Life in 1960s France
Set in France in 1963, the film follows Annie, a university student, who becomes pregnant. When she learns of her pregnancy, the doctor advises her against abortion, citing that “Every month a girl tries her luck and ends up dying in extreme pain.”
But Annie is not one to be easily dissuaded. Even when her friends desert her and her boyfriend Maxine proves to be a dead end, she takes matters into her own hands, risking her life in the process. She fails the first time but succeeds on her second try, eventually miscarrying according to medical records.
The Titular Conundrum: What’s in the Name?
The title “Happening” refers to the action that takes place in Annie’s womb and life. The film illustrates how a personal crisis becomes a universal plight under societal norms. This “happening,” or event, showcases the deterioration of Annie’s personal life juxtaposed against her body’s betrayal of her wishes.
The Underlying Themes: A Mirror to Society
The Stigma Around Abortion
Abortion was a capital crime in France, making it a subject shrouded in secrecy and stigma.
“Talking about pregnancy, let alone abortion, is a hush-hush thing among the women,” illustrates the film.
Despite the imminent second-wave feminist movement and the introduction of contraceptives, the prevailing thought was firmly anti-abortion, so much so that even medical professionals deceive Annie into keeping the baby.
The High Price of Female Agency
One of the film’s critical takeaways is the idea that choices often come with a price tag, particularly for women. For Annie, the price is alienation, the selling of personal possessions, and risking her life.
“She constantly repeats that she wants to finish college and become a writer; she has a dream, and she will not allow the baby to hamper it,” tells the film, highlighting the conflict at its core.
Final Reflections
In a nutshell, “Happening” is an unmissable tour de force that delves deep into the intricacies of female agency, social norms, and the personal becoming political.
Audrey Diwan succeeds in presenting an authentic narrative that is both riveting and heart-wrenching, forcing us to confront the harsh realities that many women face even today. And Anamaria Vartolomei gives life to Annie, a character that resonates with women worldwide.
So if you haven’t yet witnessed this cinematic gem, put it on your must-watch list. Just be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster that is as enlightening as it is harrowing.
