Tackling sensitive and contentious issues in films can be tricky since filmmakers can easily be accused of politicizing simple stories to advance their agenda. And truth be told, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” fits that narrative to a tee. In fact, the title of the film itself is based on a series of personal, multiple-choice type of questions a patient must answer with ‘never,’ ‘rarely,’ sometimes,’ or ‘always.’ Diving headfirst to tell a story about teenage pregnancy and abortion, writer-director Eliza Hittman doesn’t pull punches by showing both sides of the spectrum once its protagonist has come to a decision regarding her situation.
But here’s where the filmmaker excels: when entrusted to less-incapable hands, the film might simply devolve into a tug-of-war between conservative and liberal ideologies, a back-and-forth of exposition involving morality and mortality (or lack thereof). Thankfully, not only is Hittman steady in her direction, but she doesn’t seem to be interested in the politics of it all.
Character Study of Unwanted Teenage Pregnancy
“Never Rarely Sometimes Always” introduces us to Autumn Callahan (Sidney Flanigan), a reticent 17-year-old who, after performing an acoustic number in school, begins to feel unwell. While her mother is worried, she decides to go to a crisis pregnancy center instead, fearing that she might be pregnant.
Positive, reveals the center. Ten weeks.
We shouldn’t be out of line to ask the whereabouts of the father of the baby; but before we even begin, Hittman has already given us just enough access to invest in Autumn. Here’s a lonely teen who has a combative relationship with her family, a dead-end cashier job which she clearly dislikes, and whose only source of love and care comes from her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder). School doesn’t look cheerful either, as evidenced by the opening minutes of the film: for some reason, despite her clear talent for music, Autumn doesn’t have the luxury of friends.
So yeah, maybe asking where the father of the baby isn’t important at all.
Sidney Flanigan in a scene from “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” (Focus Features, 2020).
Instead, Hittman and Flanigan focus on the whirlwind of emotions surrounding Autumn as she tries to make sense of what to do next. There aren’t any scenes of emotional breakdown, not even moments wherein her thoughts are at an impasse. Autumn simply accepts the results and sets her sight firmly on what to do with the pregnancy. Citing state laws that forbid abortions without parental consent, Autumn and Skylar travel to New York to gain access to abortion without the same prohibition.
Sidestepping of the Endless Debates by Focusing on the Performance
As noted above, imagine the shitstorm that would befall Hittman had she opted to focus on the implications of Autumn either getting an abortion or continuing her pregnancy. And that simple sidestep is a clever move. Ultimately, whether Autumn got access to an abortion clinic, underwent a successful operation, or simply chickened out at the last minute is all immaterial. We just want her to enjoy her life for once, instead of being preoccupied for something else she’s clearly not invested in.
And this is where we reserve praise for the actress who brought Hittman’s complex Autumn to life.
It’s hard to believe that this film marks the debut acting career of Sidney Flanigan. Her portrayal of a pregnant 17-year-old just reeking of apathy might look easy on paper, but it’s those moments where no words are spoken where we see a young star in the making. Evoking a young Jodie Foster reining the madness in through a tough-looking façade, Flanigan’s subdued performance looks and feels like that of a seasoned actress whose body of work has given her the range to die for. It might be a long-shot for her to receive an Oscar nod for ‘Best Actress,’ but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Academy’s younger voters give her this due. She deserves that much.
With “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” writer-director Eliza Hittman strikes the perfect balance between cinema verité and fiction, giving us a realistic character study of unwelcome teenage pregnancy that stays with you for days.
Where to watch: “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is available to watch on Fandango Now, Vudu, Prime Video, HBO Now, HBO Max (via subscription), and Apple TV.
