I heard about this film when it first came out, mostly because Talia Ryder immediately got a great deal of attention on Chinese social media sites for her answer at the Berlin Film Festival. But I really didn't think about watching it until I found it on Netflix the other day, and trust me when I say that this film is one hundred percent deserving of a watch.
The film deals with a heavy topic in a way that I find truly unique. Abortion is something that has been on the American mind since Roe v. Wade (or at least it has been on mine), but this film showcases the story in a way that is somehow universal and telling and passionate without being all "in your face" about it. In a way, it reminds me of Carol. Not because of their topics or even their characters, Autumn is nothing like Therese (since the story is being told from their perspective), and Skylar is nothing like Carol (though both are elusive and bold). But the story is told in a way that is un-invasive. Like the lady who turned to her husband and said, "Harold, they're lesbians," at the end of Carol, Never Rarely Sometimes Always does not force its message on the audience. Instead, it leads the audience into the story slowly, so that even if you have preconceptions about abortion and teenage sex you aren't forced to confront them immediately. You are lured into the comfort of the film before anything controversial comes up, and by then you understand the characters and who they are. Not all films should be like this, because art should be nothing if not provocative. But for a film like Never Rarely Sometimes Always, this is the way to ensure that their audience is willing to listen to their message without being offended the minute the movie begins.
The word "abortion" is literally mentioned once in the film. And that's something else that struck me about it. It is so... Understated. You watch a film about abortion, and there are a few things you expect to see. You expect to see a confrontation scene, where the main character who is getting the abortion is somehow confronted by a person they care about about how abortion is "unethical." You expect a struggle scene, where the main character is struggling with whether or not they want to get the procedure. You expect an ending scene, where the main character is in tears or someone around them is all emotional because of what they have just gone through. And all of that is completely OK when dealing with a subject as stigmatized as abortion, but this film... Has none of it.
Our two main characters, Autumn and Skylar, are completely stoic the entire time. I think I see Skylar smile twice, and Autumn maybe once. I think I see them cry even less. They are nearly stone-faced the entire film, and though it may seem counter-intuitive, this makes sense to me as well. With all of the restrictions placed on a woman in getting an abortion, somewhere along the way it's bound to become less of an emotional journey and more just something you want over with. And the understated way that Skylar asks Autumn if she is OK when she gets her procedure, the way their attention shifts from abortion to a piece of bread so easily makes the procedure somehow even more potent. They don't seem to care, but in the moments of silence, in the outbursts between the girls, there are deep feelings running. The film never makes those feelings clear, but the underlying tone belies the characters and the director's voice. The film is understated, but it is no less passionate about its topic than a film more explicit about its message.
I also have to mention another thing that is understated in the film, something that nearly broke my heart while I was watching. The girls encounter sexual harassment on a daily basis, and yet they don't make a big deal out of it. Whether it is their manager kissing their hand, a man masturbating to them on the subway, or even Jonathan touching Skylar without her permission. The girls seem so used to it that they don't even react anymore, standing still to just let these things get over with. And that's a truth that is terrifying to think about as a woman, but is a truth nonetheless. Women are not allowed to speak up about what they endure. Because voices that tell women that they are hysterical, that they are overreacting, that they are wrong, are so strong that the woman's singular voice against a sea of disbelieving is nearly silent. Because even when Autumn is abused by her partner, she is the one who is called a "slut." She is the one who is ridiculed and insulted by even her own family for her sexual choices, when the partner she sleeps with is likely getting off scot-free. The partner doesn't even factor in the film, and the only time Autumn cries is when she tells the abortion clinic counselor that she was abused by her partner.
God, she's 17. She should not be without a supporting system in times of turmoil like this. She should not have to rely on her also a minor cousin and cash they stole from their grocery store job to pay for the choice she should have the complete freedom to make. Her cousin Skylar should not have to kiss a man and be there alone for Autumn simply because they do not have the money to pay for the procedure.
Even if circumstances for them were different, however, there is still the stigma attached to abortion itself to consider. The people waving signs outside, the doctor who lied about Autumn's pregnancy time duration, the video they showed to Autumn so evidently being outdated and anti-abortion. These are people who make it so that abortion is seen as an evil, who re-enforce over and over the patriarchal structure of society that tells a woman even what she does with her own body is not her choice.
Talking about this only makes me angrier about the overturning of Roe v. Wade. 13 states have now banned abortion completely, 15 states are without operating abortion clinics, and women in Texas now no longer have access to abortion even in the cases of medical emergencies.
For women, this means that soon, the trip to receive an abortion will mirror the trip that Autumn and Skylar make in the film, if they can even afford to make the trip at all. If they can't, they will have a child they did not ask for, a child they may not be able to provide for, on their hands. If they do, they will have to be able to finance their travels and even then arrive in places that they are unfamiliar with to have a procedure that can have significant personal connotations attached to it.
If you are really pro-life, remember that the life of the mother, a human being who has lived, with connections, with family, with loved ones and friends, is a life as well. Remember her life. Remember her right to choose.
Comments