iRate: Eliza Hittman builds empathy like no other

By JASON GUYER
The importance of cinema is often lost in the entertainment value of cinema.

Yes, films are meant to entertain. I, as much as anyone, enjoy the Marvel cinematic universe, the Harry Potter universe, the Lord of the Rings universe, and so on. The blow ‘em up action style film is always good for quick-hitting entertainment.

My preference in film, though, lies in films that carry weight, which means real life emotion and stories. These types of stories create something this country has lost, empathy.

Stories that put you behind or in a place you have no experience with are the best ones in my opinion. They give one perspective. The same way reading book after book serves to teach the reader and give the reader perspective, films often can do the same thing.

Reading and films are back in a big way under our new COVID-19 lifestyle. My hope is that what people read and watch has a profound and positive effect on the population in these hard times.

Although there are no theaters — and we do miss the community experience of cinema — there are still good films to be found and watched. The home preview service, where films that were in or about to be released in theaters get released at home, is in full operation. The majority are not worth the $20 rental price.

However, one film worth your time and money is “Never Rarely Sometimes Always.”

There is one caveat. “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is a hard hitting film; an unflinching and authentic experience of one young woman from poor rural Pennsylvania who finds herself in need of an abortion.

This politically charged subject matter will not be for everyone. However, I would implore everyone to give this film a watch as empathy is the name of the game. “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is one that is not preachy on the abortion debate. The whole point of “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is not to preach but to experience. Instead, the film puts you in Autumn’s experience and Eliza Hittman, the director, couldn’t have done a better job making sure the film is one to be experienced.

In short, Hittman has created a drama that needs to be seen.

The film follows Autumn who is faced with an unintended pregnancy. Autumn doesn’t have a good support system except for her cousin, Skylar. Thus, the pair travel across state lines to New York City on a journey of bravery, compassion and friendship.

The best way to express how the film is experienced through its characters is the bond between Autumn and Skylar. Autumn never actually has to say the words, “I am pregnant” to Skylar. But the pair is so close Skylar knows intuitively and goes on this journey with her cousin/friend without ever being asked to.

The film carries a lot of unspoken weight and while it may be silent it can be seen through its characters. This is where the beauty of “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” particularly shines, as after a while you begin to see yourself as Autumn. The audience is Autumn and shares all of her decisions and experiences.

What the Pennsylvania pregnancy clinic does to Autumn is felt. When Autumn makes it to New York and is questioned, each question is felt. Autumn’s answers to those questions are felt. The tears that will stream from the audience, as they experience what Autumn experiences, are felt.

Sidney Flanigan, who plays Autumn, does so to perfection. Flanigan does so much with so few words. “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is not a wordy film and while the pace is often slow the movie is swift.

“Never Rarely Sometimes Always” hits rarified air with me. I do understand that in an age where everyone treats their opinions as must-haves and facts that everyone has a different opinion and cinema is one of the arenas where opinion is supposed to vary. One’s favorite films, like one’s favorite foods, are meant to vary.

Considering that there are very few films I would say everyone needs to watch, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is one of these films. I enjoyed every second I was immersed in this film. My attention never left the television and for the first time I fought to get family members to see it as well. My family mostly tends to like the entertainment side of cinema, as is probably common.

Those who watched “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” enjoyed the experience, even with its subject matter. Did opinions change? No not really but one thing did happen and it was the most wonderful part of the experience of “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” everyone empathized with Autumn.

Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Opinions don’t have to change to feel or understand experiences of another. The experience is what matters. Opinions may not change but how you see and treat others does when you experience what others experience; when you empathize with other people.

The best scene in “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is the one that gives the film its name. One health care worker asks Autumn a series of questions with the answers to be never, rarely, sometimes or always. Everyone has experience with these sorts of questions. This scene is a breathtaking sequence. One where the viewer and Autumn herself are forced to come to terms with things she has buried and truths about what it sometimes means to be a female in this world. This scene is empathy at its finest and makes the audience feel.

In “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” nothing blows up and no one flies so it may not entertain in the same way as most films dominating the box office today. But what “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” does is better and far beyond that. The film makes the viewer feel. When storytelling does that, that is all you need.

Eliza Hittman’s hard hitting drama is one that surely was poised to become the film hit of the year — rightly so — even though the film was just due to be released when the COVID-19 virus hit the U.S.

IRATE SCORE: 5/5

Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the graphics department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected].