France, 1963. Anne is a bright young student with a promising future ahead of her. But when she falls pregnant, she sees the opportunity to finish her studies and escape the constraints of her social background disappearing. With her final exams fast approaching and her belly growing, Anne resolves to act, even if she has to confront shame and pain, even if she must risk prison to do so.
For in-depth thoughts on Happening, please see my colleague Devin McGrath-Conwell’s review from its Sundance Film Festival screening here.
Video Quality
Happening comes to Blu-Ray with a terrific AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.37:1 that showcases the look of the film extremely well. The cinematography intentionally features few pops of color outside of the environmental notes and certain articles of clothing which really stand out. Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail both in the period production design and textures of the clothing. Everything from the textured interiors to the tactile nature of the costumes is quite impressive. The picture is very clear with only brief instances of murkiness during a few of the more shadowy scenes. Black levels are very pleasing with a strong amount of depth. Skin tones are natural throughout with some impeccable details present in certain shots such as perspiration or scrapes. Overall, this is quite a detailed transfer that should please anyone who watches it.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in the original French that is rich and well balanced without being pushed to the limits. Environmental effects bring some nice texture to the film, and this track brings these elements to life quite favorably. The use of the rear channels to create a fully immersive world works quite well. Directionality is quite precise so that sounds always emanate from their natural points. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overshadowed by any of the other sounds. The music maintains a nice fidelity throughout while cementing the tone of the narrative. Activity in the low end is very subtle and is mostly used to add a bit of character to certain moments. RLJE Films has delivered a great track for this film. This release comes with English subtitles.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on this disc.
Final Thoughts
Happening is a very tough film to watch for many reasons, but that may be exactly why you should seek it out. The film is unsparing in its portrayal of the dire consequences which arise when women are not given the choice to make decisions about their own bodies. The film is a period piece, but you could argue that the events depicted have never felt more relevant. The filmmaking on display is simply terrific, every choice aiding the overall goal of enhancing the story. The central performance is a knockout, and the film never rings with a false note. RLJE Films has released a Blu-Ray with a tremendous A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. This film is one of the highlights of the year if you can handle the tough subject matter. Highly Recommended
Happening is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: RLJE Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
