Roses Have Thoughts

Never Rarely Sometimes Always is an unflinching and quietly devastating portrayal of a young woman’s struggle for autonomy. Directed by Eliza Hittman, the film follows 17-year-old Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) as she embarks on a difficult journey from rural Pennsylvania to New York City to obtain an abortion. Hittman’s understated direction, paired with Flanigan’s remarkable debut performance, creates a film that resonates deeply without ever sensationalizing its subject matter.

Sidney Flanigan’s portrayal of Autumn is a study of restraint and vulnerability. Flanigan plays her with a quiet intensity, revealing a guarded yet resilient teenager whose journey requires maturity far beyond her years. With minimal dialogue, Flanigan’s performance relies on expressions and small gestures, making Autumn’s inner life compellingly real. Talia Ryder, as Autumn’s loyal cousin Skylar, provides a subtle, steadying contrast, highlighting the bond between the two girls as they face the harsh realities of the world together.

Hittman’s direction is deliberately restrained, using a documentary-like approach that allows the story to unfold naturally. The camera lingers on Autumn’s face, capturing the isolation and quiet despair of her situation. The title refers to a scene of heart-breaking intimacy: a questionnaire in a Planned Parenthood clinic, where Autumn answers questions about her personal life. This scene, filmed in a single take, is profoundly moving, offering insight into her past traumas without unnecessary exposition. Hittman’s approach here is almost journalistic, letting Autumn’s silence speak as loudly as her answers.

The film is shot in muted tones that mirror the gravity of the subject, while Hittman avoids melodrama and focuses on the small but significant challenges the girls face. Whether they are navigating the subway or dealing with predatory strangers, these scenes illustrate the constant obstacles young women encounter in simply trying to exercise control over their lives. It’s an intimate experience that Hittman invites the audience to witness rather than merely observe.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always succeeds in its raw honesty, its refusal to oversimplify, and its respect for Autumn’s complex emotional landscape. While the pacing may feel slow for some, the film’s strength lies in its quiet insistence on authenticity.

This is a powerful, deeply affecting story about resilience and friendship, and Hittman’s meticulous craft allows Autumn’s journey to feel deeply personal and universal all at once. A thoughtful and poignant film, now so more than ever.

IMDB