REVIEW: Director Eliza Hittman Takes a Risk with Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Never Rarely Sometimes Always, the newest offering from Focus Features, demonstrates these seemingly easy choices can hold deeper, more emotional meanings. Never Rarely Sometimes Always tells the story of Autumn (Sidney Flanigan), a seventeen year young woman who leaves her rural Pennsylvania town to travel to New York City to have an abortion. Along for the harrowing journey is Autumn’s support system and cousin, Skylar (Talia Ryder). Autumn’s struggle to make it through the abortion process and handle the challenges that go with are the focus of this film.

Director Eliza Hittman shines light on topics that are not easily discussed, as such there isn’t much verbal communication in Never Rarely Sometimes Always. Not only is it too hard to explain what one is going through, but it’s incredibly difficult to understand what one might be going through. Instead, non-verbal communication takes center stage whether it be in the form of Autumn’s face as she grapples with the physical procedure or the hand touching the cousins often rely to express their sympathy and support. There is one particular scene between Autumn and her counselor featuring a number of implied answers to tough questions that drives home the task and toll this has had on Autumn.

You can read the rest of our review under the jump. Never Rarely Sometimes Always will be available on participating on-demand services for a 48-hour rental period beginning today, April 3rd for $19.99.

Flanigan and Ryder carry the film well. With little dialogue to go off of, their physical relationship is what keeps this journey moving. You will feel for both young women as they deal with the hands they’ve been dealt. Autumn and Skylar’s paths are ones walked by many young women all over the world and while this story isn’t revelatory or exposing, it is heartbreaking nonetheless.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always touches on a topic that is not easy for everyone. Everyone has their opinion on the subject of abortion, but this film is more about the struggle of being a young woman in America. From unwanted attention to feeling like one must use quid pro quo to survive, girls that should be enjoying their high school days are forced into adulthood too early. The film isn’t meant to up lift or inspire, but it will stay with you. Make sure to have something that makes you happy on standby because you are going to need it.

Grade: B-