French film ‘Happening’: view of things to come?

Above: Annamarie Vartolomei stars in the French-language film "Happening." (Photo/IFC Films)

Today’s big story, other than the ongoing war news from Ukraine, involves the very real possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court will repeal Roe v. Wade.

That decision, of course, will make the right to abortion illegal in nearly half the states – though now, at least for the moment, not in Washington.

One of the films opening Friday at the Magic Lantern Theatre takes a historical look at the abortion issue. “Happening,” directed by French director Audrey Riwan from a script she co-wrote and adapted from a novel by Annie Ernaux, takes us back to a time in France when abortion was illegal there.

Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times wrote, “A realist thriller that morphs, sans sentimentality or platitudes, into a quietly affecting portrait of female solidarity.”

Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly, in contrast, was far more blunt. “If ‘Happening’ often feels like a punch to the solar plexus,” she wrote, “that's exactly what it should be.”

And Katie Walsh of Tribune News Service took the opportunity to deliver a prophesy. “In an ideal world, ‘Happening’ would simply be a lesson about a dark history,” she wrote. “Instead, it might be a chilling portent of our future.”

The Lantern, too, is picking up the film “The Duke,” which is already playing at AMC River Park Square.