Join us for a screening and post-film discussion!

Join us for a film screening of L'événement (EN: Happening), followed by a discussion in French with members of the Alliance Française book club, who have read and studied Annie Ernaux's novel of the same name.

About the film

L'Événement (EN: Happening) 2021 | 1h 40min | Drama | Directed by Audrey Diwan with Anamaria Vartolomei, Kacey Mottet Klein, Luàna Bajrami

Film synopsis: France, 1963. Anne, a promising student, becomes pregnant. She decides to have an abortion, determined to take control of her own body and future. She embarks on a solitary race against time, defying the law. Her exams are approaching, and her belly is beginning to show.

Happening is a 2021 French drama film directed by Audrey Diwan. The film's adapted screenplay was written by Diwan and Marcia Romano from the 2000 memoir Happening by Annie Ernaux. Set in 1963, the film stars Anamaria Vartolomei as Anne, who experiences the emotionally and physically traumatic process of obtaining an abortion in France before it was legalized. The film also stars Luàna Bajrami, Pio Marmaï, Sandrine Bonnaire, Anna Mouglalis, Louise Chevillotte, Kacey Mottet Kelin, and Louise Orry-Diquéro in supporting roles with cinematography by Laurent Tangy.

Want a sneak peak? Check out a clip from the film here: Film Clip. 

Happening premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2021, where it won the Golden Lion and received universal acclaim from critics. It was released in French theatres by Wild Bunch on 24 November 2021. It was well received, being nominated for and winning numerous awards at the BAFTAs, Gotham Awards, Lumière Awards, and César Awards.

Event information

Date: Friday, November 6th, 2026
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Location:  Alliance Francaise de Philadelphie, 1420 Walnut St, Suite 700, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Language: French with English subtitles - Post-film discussion in French
Fee: $10 for AF Members / $15 for non-AF Members

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