daily stream: the must-see abortion drama of the moment
2022's *Happening* is new on Hulu in the US, and available on lots of other services on both sides of the Atlantic
Trying something new for 2023: Daily Stream, a really good and/or really fun flick you may have missed, or forgotten about, that’s available somewhere to stream. I’ll try to find ones that are both US and UK, but that might not always be possible. Free for all subscribers, but if you like this, upgrading to paid will encourage me to keep it up!
I’ll also be posting these to Patreon, Twitter, Mastodon, Post, and Facebook, if you’d prefer to get them at one of those services, and I’ll do a once-a-week roundup post at the Flick Filosopher web site. (See below for instructions for turning these particular emails off here at Substack.)
Abortion rights are having a moment at the moment, for all the wrong reasons: they are under attack around the globe… attacks that have been getting stronger — and more successful — for years now. Women filmmakers are responding, of course, and the best example by far is the 2021 French film Happening (L’événement). Director Audrey Diwan — who has just received BAFTA and Directors Guild of America nominations — adapts the semiautobiographical short novel by Annie Ernaux about a young woman in 1960s France seeking an illegal abortion. It’s harrowing. From my review:
Anne’s life narrows down to hushed euphemisms as her schoolwork suffers and as her time runs out. [Star Anamaria] Vartolomei’s intense performance is one of focused terror, one she must keep still and silent with lest anyone guess what she is enduring. This is body horror evoked by knitting needles and medical instruments prepared on a kitchen table, more suggestive than outright graphic but that’s enough. This is what we’re staring down once again. Do not look away.
US: new to stream on Hulu; also streaming on AMC+ (via Prime); rent/buy on Prime and Apple TV
UK: stream on Mubi (via Prime); rent/buy on Prime and Apple TV; rent on Curzon Home Cinema and BFI Player
When you rent or purchase a film through my Prime and Apple links, I get a small affiliate fee that helps support my work. Please use them if you can! (Affiliate fees do not increase your cost.)
find lots more movies to stream at Flick Filosopher
You control which emails from me you receive in your Substack account settings. Go to My Subscriptions > Flick Filosopher > Edit > Email notifications, then uncheck whichever bits you don’t want to receive by email. (No matter what email settings you choose, you can always read stuff at the Flick Filosopher Substack site.)
follow me…
Twitter | Letterboxd | Rotten Tomatoes | Pinterest