Never Rarely Sometimes Always

I was really impressed by this film. The film making and script worked together so flawlessly to create a story that is so real and interesting and terrifying all at the same time.

The movie is slow but not in a bad way. It takes you along with these characters and makes you almost feel like you are the third person with them on this journey.

I like the stance that the film took with the subject. It didn't give any room for people to have opinions, it just happened. It almost served as an information film about the the struggles and impact that a woman can go though for this procedure in a way that was so 'fly on the wall'. It was like watching 3 days of someone's life.

I think it also shown how difficult it can be to just be a woman in the world and how scary it can be. It didn't do it with big scenes that caused an uproar, it did it with quiet scenes that were just accepted and that makes it even scarier.

I think this film was really well done and really well crafted, the acting was great too. It was one of the indie films that makes you really excited for the world of indie movies.

About as far from a feel good movie as you're likely to find, Never Rarely Sometimes Always is not a film made to cheer its audience up or provide entertainment in the typical sense of the word but Eliza Hittman's career defining feature is a powerful and quietly spoken drama that deserves plaudits for its raw and uncompromising look at both teen pregnancy and abortion, in what is often considered a taboo subject matter for features.

Starring relatively unknown actresses Sidney Flanigan and Talia Ryder as cousins and friends Autumn and Skylar, Pennsylvanian natives who must venture to New York City when Autumn becomes pregnant and decides she is not ready to have a child of her own, Always is a road trip movie without any of the laughs or follies that are usually associated with such a narrative and Hittman and her actresses keep the film imbedded in an almost documentary like realism that may sap your energy but keeps you gripped throughout as Autumn's life changing decision draws closer.

Both Autumn and Skylar don't make for the most enjoyable of travel companions, both are clearly victims of their not ideal situations and harsh realities of a world in which they are seen as game to the men preying on them at all angles whether it be at school, work or general public and both of the girls have bypassed much in the way of personality but people like these two lost souls exist in the world and Hittman is determined to ensure her film is a warts and all experience for both her characters and her audience members.

Devoid mostly of color or flair, the world of Autumn and Skylar is bleak like their future prospects seem to be but Always finds a heart and soul in allowing these two struggling teenagers to be that, versions of real life people going through real life decisions and situations that we may not always care to think about but are there ever present regardless.

This type of true to life tale is the type of film that should find a place in schools and grown families lounge rooms, its not a film to watch for the pure delight of it but its one that should be talked about and discussed if for nothing more than to consider what life on the other side of the tracks may be like and how people and their situations shape and mold their decisions as they go through this great big world and their individual lives.

Final Say -

A tough film and one that refuses to shy away from its intense subject matter, Never Rarely Sometimes Always is an important little film that tackles some weighty and often unspoken about tales.

3 1/2 luggage bags out of 5.

A touching, heartbreaking & bracingly relevant indie that beats at its loudest during the quieter moments in between, Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a small-scale but powerfully resonant drama that tackles its difficult subject matter with prudence & without prejudice, and is wonderfully manoeuvred by the poignant performances from its young ladies.

Written & directed by Eliza Hittman, the premise is a simple one but the emotions it elicits are raw & evocative. The plot is lean, focused & constantly on the move, and Hittman places complete trust in her actors to guide her story to its destination. The characters are sketched with care & compassion, their predicament is firmly rooted in reality, and they are beautifully rendered by the cast.

Sidney Flanigan plays the teenage protagonist seeking medical help in the wake of an unintended pregnancy and the subtleness with which she brings her character's inner turmoil to surface is simply astounding, even more so on realising that it's her acting debut. Talia Ryder deserves a mention too, chipping in with a strong support that's just as impressive if not more as her character is challenged in her own ways.

Overall, Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a sincere, heartfelt & genuinely moving indie drama that benefits from Hittman's composed direction & sensible writing, and is further elevated by emotionally engrossing inputs from both Flanigan & Ryder. The documentary-like approach, silent camerawork & relaxed pace serve as necessities to this performance-driven story while quality work from its cast makes it all the more effective & worthwhile.

A simple but raw story with a realistic friendship at its core. No embellishments, no climax. Both comfortable and uncomfortable. Honest.

Pro-lifers mad.

This film tells a teenage girl having to go through a very difficult time of her life, with only the support of her cousin. The scene which features the title of this film is very effective and emotional. The latter part of the film is pretty slow, but heart wrenching.