"Never Rarely Sometimes Always"

Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a drama film directed by Eliza Hittman, starring Sidney Flanigan (in her first acting role) as Autumn, a teenager who finds out she is pregnant, and Talia Ryder as Autumn's cousin Skylar. The film chronicles Autumn's attempts to get an abortion, and does so in a very understated and intimate manner, focusing less on the ethical debate and more on the emotional journey Autumn goes on throughout the film as well as the close and supportive relationship between Autumn and Skylar.

The film paints a very frank picture of abortion, with a very close attention to detail; the pacing is slow, but not once did I ever think that it was dragging its feet, as I understood that there was a deliberate sense of purpose to its pacing. The scene where Autumn has to answer a series of very personal questions is a particular highlight, as despite the scene moving slowly, it was gradually building towards an emotional payoff, and Flanigan's performance in that scene moved me deeply, instantly giving me insight into Autumn's mind with only a few simple words and a gradual yet subdued emotional breakdown. 

The film shows the process of getting an abortion in its entirety, with all its mundanities, and far from being dull, it actually managed to allow the audience to step into Autumn's shoes; The sparse amount of dialogue in the film and its wholehearted embrace of "show, don't tell" also worked wonders for the film, letting the viewer truly immerse themselves in Autumn's experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of Autumn's thoughts and mental state without the need to spell it out in words. It's a testament to the director, the acting of the two lead actresses, and the cinematographer Helene Louvart, that even though I watched this film across three sittings, I was fully engaged with it the entire way through.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always is an exceptionally powerful film about a young girl trying to get an abortion, told largely with non-verbal communication, sparse dialogue that reflects the leads' emotional states, a focus on the mundane details that is nevertheless engaging, and featuring a pair of excellent performances from Flanigan and Ryder. If there was one word to describe this film, that word would be empathetic, as the film focuses on Autumn's feelings above all else, getting the point across in a very minimalistic way. 

A definite must-watch! 10/10