Happening (film)

Happening (French: L'Événement) is a 2021 French drama thriller film directed by Audrey Diwan. The film's adapted screenplay was written by Diwan and Marcia Romano from the memoir Happening by Annie Ernaux published in 2000. The film stars French-Romanian actress Anamaria Vartolomei as the main character, Anne, and her emotionally and physically traumatic process of obtaining and receiving an abortion before it was legalized in France. The film also stars Luàna Bajrami, Pio Marmaï, Sandrine Bonnaire, Anna Mouglalis, Louise Chevillotte, Kacey Mottet Kelin, and Louise Orry-Diquéro in supporting roles with cinematography by Laurent Tangy.

Set in 1963 France, when abortion was illegal, a young and talented student, Anne, discovers she is pregnant. Her opportunities to finish her studies begin to slip away from her while she attempts to receive help from two male doctors. Since abortion was illegal at this time, both doctors refuse to help her. As her final exams approach and her social life begins to fade, Anne struggles to find somebody who is willing to give her an abortion, even if she must risk prison and/or death to do so.

The film premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2021, where the film won the Golden Lion and received universal acclaim from critics. After the award ceremony, Diwan shared that she "felt heard tonight!". It was distributed by Wild Bunch in France during July 2021. The film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and was released in the U.S. on May 6, 2022. It was widely received, being nominated for and winning numerous awards at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, BAFTA, Gotham Awards, Lumières Awards, and César Awards.