Happening

In France in 1963 a bright literature student from the provinces finds she is pregnant. Abortion is illegal, and everyone she might ask for help is afraid of becoming an accomplice. The film does not present this as a debate; the narrative writes the count of weeks on screen and keeps the camera at her shoulder throughout. The subject is not what she will do but that nobody can help her. Audrey Diwan directed, with Anamaria Vartolomei in the lead. It is adapted from Annie Ernaux's account of her own experience. It won the Golden Lion in Venice. A real warning: the attempted abortions are shown at length and directly; people left screenings and some fainted. The content is extremely hard and the film does not soften it.