Synopsis:
An intimate portrayal of two teenage girls in rural Pennsylvania. Faced with an unintended pregnancy and a lack of local support, Autumn and her cousin Skylar embark on a brave, fraught journey across state lines to New York City.
There’s a multitude of issues in the world that affect us all, but there are a few that are not just controversial but result in a vicious polarization of society that can last decades. In a clash of rights, religious beliefs, and politics, abortion remains to be something that a vast majority cannot or will not ever be able to agree on. A huge problem appears when these issues become nameless faceless incidents and simply wind up as numbers on a screen. While reducing a person to a statistic is a way to argue facts instead of emotions, most issues aren’t quite that simple. Hell, life isn’t that simple. When it comes to this issue, it seems to not only come down to whether or not you believe a person has the right to what they want with their body, but also your views on forced sex that results in pregnancy. These questions and others are some that, Never Rarely Sometimes Always pose. It’s a film that takes this issue from being faceless to putting you in the shoes of a teenage girl faced with a difficult decision.
The film definitely leans one way but what it does is show a very real reality for some women and young ladies, a reality that tends to be overlooked by many. While not being a dialogue-heavy picture, the film is able to communicate powerfully through action. However, the dialogue, like the attention to detail was very well placed and meticulous. For example, when the films’ titular words make their appearance they hit like a sledgehammer. It’s the little things that make the film great. Being the fact that I know women that have gone through this difficult situation, it’s heartwarming to see this film executed with such care. The only aspect that I had beef with was that all the men were portrayed as disgusting, predatory scumbags. I understand why the director did it, for the sake of driving her point home but it’s very unfortunate to see. On the other hand, it may simply be a representation of a culture that lets men get away with vile acts with no accountability while women suffer in silence. Apart from this, the cinematography was beautifully done with some very emotion-filled shots that drove the story. The acting couldn’t have been any better. It’s especially surprising since it is the film debut for both of its stars. While somber for much of its runtime, the moments of joy are pure and well deserved. It’s as much a story of triumph as it is despair. Unquestionably, whether you’re pro-choice or pro-life, I believe Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a film that everyone should experience. Overall, I believe this is one of the best films of the year.
Plot & Pace
The film follows Autumn, a teenage girl from a small town in Pennsylvania who unexpectedly finds out that she is pregnant. Not having the best parental figures, Autumn deals with her new burden in secret. With her options limited, she decides there is only one way out of her situation. When her cousin, Skylar discovers her secret the two scrape together what money they can and catch a bus to New York to see what can be done. The pacing of the film is almost thriller-like even for how melancholy it is. While subtle, it builds constantly as the two girls have to overcome adversities. It was so captivating to me that it was over before I knew it. I don’t say this often, but I wanted it to be longer. There are some lingering questions that I need answers to.
Characters & Chemistry
Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) and Skylar (Talia Ryder) had amazing chemistry. From the beginning, their chemistry screamed cousins. The little things they do to make themselves seem closer than friends but not quit sisters is next-level. Initially, Autumn seems somewhat outgoing but actually may be a loner as she doesn’t seem to have many friends and her parents don’t seem to care much about her. Skylar takes charge and is a true companion. She will do whatever she can to help her cousin no matter how adverse the situation. If they didn’t have each other their world would be a lot darker. The future looks bright for these two actresses.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always is now available on Prime Video and Video on Demand. Enjoy the movie and stay safe.
Director: Eliza Hittman
Writer: Eliza Hittman
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 41m
Rating: 4 out of 5
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
