Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always.

Boris 2022-04-08 09:01:13

Where should I start... In fact, the background of this shortlisted film at the Berlin Film Festival is a theme that is relatively commonplace in Western countries but has a very deep meaning: minor sexual intercourse without condom leads to pregnancy and then secret abortion. In fact, the film's theme is about "women", as can be seen very well in the following three scenes.

The first scene: the heroine's family. His dad was secretly prostituting her all the time, intentionally or not; especially using the word "slut" when talking to the dog and then looking back at her. This also interprets what the female protagonist said in the conversation with her confidant sister before the operation in the New York hospital: "sexual violence", "sexual coercion" and the potential "daddy issue".

The second scene: a part-time cashier in a supermarket. First, Skylar was forced to kiss the back of her hand by the manager next to the window when she was paying the bill every day (or licking, after all, no one has kissed for such a long time.), and then she was also kissed behind her, but the two of them kept "keep silent". This scene shows that this kind of thing "seems" to be very common at the time, and it can even be said that the dividing line of sexual harassment has been lowered. Fortunately, the latter two secretly took a few US dollar bills, which made me feel relieved.

The third scene: the little brother from New York who met in the car. At first, I was also inexplicable why the screenwriter suddenly established this seemingly unrelated storyline. It was only later that I gradually realized that it was the "urban-rural difference". I personally think that when this little brother asked Skylar for his contact information, he was thinking of 419, at least from the perspective of the later plot. Autumn refused to accept the help of the hospital volunteers, which left the two of them with nowhere to stay. Later, Skylar had to respond to his brother's message. When drinking and singing K, the little brother's dialogue is very sexual, such as: "Do you want me to buy more drinks?" This sentence and the feeling of enjoyment when lying low in Skylar's ear. Why is my brother unconditionally nice to the two of them, inviting them to play bowling, drink and sing K for free, in fact, he just wants to sleep with Skylar. Sure enough, the main line behind the little brother disappeared inexplicably. I don't know if there was anything with Skylar.

There is a male character in each scene: a father, a supermarket manager, a stranger from New York. The two heroines are always in a state of gender oppression in these three scenes, but they are unwilling to compromise. This is the power of women.

Interlude: The reason why I don't like the character of the heroine is that she is not brave enough to say "no". And she asked Skylar to sell her color in order to maintain her so-called self-esteem, and in the middle she got angry with Skylar and called her "Fuck off". On the contrary, I think Skylar is more suitable for the role of the heroine. The eye scene is much better than Autumn, especially the one on the shuttle bus.

Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always.

The title of this movie is really good.

View more about Never Rarely Sometimes Always reviews

Extended Reading
  • Weston 2022-04-14 09:01:06

    Very Sundance, but not as expected.

  • Clement 2022-04-06 09:01:07

    - Does it hurt? ——No feeling, just uncomfortable. I'm still emotionally disturbed after watching it, and I don't know how to evaluate the pain of this movie. Maybe, that faint, indescribable, that will soon be forgotten but will be remembered from time to time, the uncomfortable feeling is what pain is like. A true film about women doesn't need howls and slogans, just a brief shut-eye, a simple Rarely, is enough to set off a storm.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always quotes

  • Skylar: What did the Doctor say?

    Autumn: They couldn't really help me

    Skylar: Why not?

    Autumn: I took a test.

    Skylar: What kind of test?

    [Autumn then retches and throws up]

  • Skylar: Don't you ever just wish you were a dude?

    Autumn: All the time.