France, 1963. Anne is a bright young student with a promising future ahead of her. But when she falls pregnant, she sees the opportunity to finish her studies and escape the constraints of her social background disappearing. With her final exams fast approaching and her belly growing, Anne resolves to act, even if she has to confront shame and pain, even if she must risk prison to do so.
Acting
Vartolomei's face carries entire scenes without dialogue.
Direction
Diwan's unflinching close-ups refuse to look away.
Cinematography
Squeezed academy ratio traps Anne in every frame.
Director
Audrey Diwan
Anamaria Vartolomei
Anne Duchesne
Kacey Mottet Klein
Jean
Luàna Bajrami
Hélène
Louise Orry-Diquéro
Brigitte
Pio Marmaï
Pr. Bornec
Sandrine Bonnaire
Gabrielle Duchesne
Cyril Metzger
Gaspard
Anna Mouglalis
Madame Rivière
Fabrizio Rongione
Dr. Ravinsky
Julien Frison
Maxime
Alice de Lencquesaing
Laëtitia
François Loriquet
Dr. Guimet
Louise Chevillotte
Olivia
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Anamaria Vartolomei was 22 playing 23, but her performance convinced festival audiences she was actually pregnant. She wasn't.
Released months before Roe v. Wade was overturned in the US, making its 1963 setting devastatingly contemporary. Diwan called the timing 'horrifying coincidence.'
FR
