NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS Movie Review

‘NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS’ is an emotional and provocative look at the truth of a topic no one wants to touch. Right now, abortion is a frightening theme to frame a film around in America. In fact, it’s a scary subject, no matter what’s going on in this country.

Primarily since the argument against abortion is often used by politicians, for or against, in their race for office. With a promise to end something they don’t believe should exist, they argue the point to appeal to their base for votes. Keeping that in mind, with only her third feature film, writer/director Eliza Hittman, doesn’t shy away from telling a story that needs to be heard. For or against abortion, this movie is exceptional.

Having an abortion is not a decision made lightly, and Hittman shows this glaring fact in many ways. The thought of going through it is terrible to face, and it’s merely no walk in the park to have it done. Hittman isn’t doing this for anyone in particular. She’s isn’t even necessarily telling you her point of view. With this very intimate narrative, she communicates to her audience what girls, who are abandoned and left with the result of one moment in their lives, go through. Alone, having support from no one, these very young women, some victims of violence, bravely face what their future will be like with a child. All of this when they’re still in childhood themselves.

This movie spectacularly achieves the goal of explaining that these girls sacrifice everything. The person who helped put them in this position, and should share the blame and burden, is usually nowhere to be found and consequence free. They’re also not cursed, teased, and haunted by any of their actions as our teenage protagonist, Autumn (Flanigan), most definitely is. Luckily, she has a devoted cousin named Skylar (Ryder), who helps her emotionally and financially get from their small town to New York City to abort her unwanted pregnancy.

Hittman portrays these girls as intelligent and secure while at the same time, characterizes all males in the film as being vicious, unkind, empty-headed or predators. While doing all of this, she keeps the father of the fetus a secret. Early in the film, Autumn is harassed by a male student who you’re sure is the immature individual who got her pregnant and is now comfortably walking away from his responsibilities. However, a scene in her living room later points in a different direction, and the timing of things become even more disparate. Kudos to Hittman for keeping that to herself as the mystery adds to your outrage. Then, when you find out the reason for her unusual title, you’ll be even more shocked, but give a congratulatorily nod of your head at the terrific route this shrewd filmmaker took in producing that title.

When it comes to the abortion itself, the director doesn’t walk the audience through the procedure. Instead, she takes us through the steps of getting there. These steps prove all that’s needed to get you involved in Autumn’s life and to feel for her. Flanigan’s expressions are spot-on for someone put into such a miserable situation. The juveniles act maturely at times to handle such a terrible plight, but it’s easy to come back to the fact they’re merely children with scenes such as having the girls’ eat sugar and junk for every meal. It’s little things like this that make this film so big.

I predict these are two actors you’ll hear much more of in the coming years and that this film will be remembered fondly come award season. ‘NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS’ is honest, impressive, and stirring in not only showing you the hoops one must jump through to do with your body what you wish but in how much of a good story can be told with very little dialogue.

*See this film on VOD beginning Friday, April 3rd.

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