4 Moths, 3 Weeks & 2 Days

4 Months , 3 Weeks & 2 Days is a strong movie about the raw reality of illegal abortions in a communist Romania of the 90s. The film has won the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Festival; best film of the year at the FIPRESCI’s Grand Prix 2007; amongst other industry awards. The furthest you can get from an Hollywood grandiose style, this small budget movie is a back to basics, strong simple plot without the need of any sort of embellishments (soundtrack, very sexy actors) to make it more interesting.

“A comment I received after the first informal screening of the movie was also the best compliment for me so far: (…) if you listen to the characters in the film from another room, they sound like people talking in home videos.” – Cristian Mungiu (Director)

The acting is so realistic, that it almost makes you believe that you are watching a documentary, rather than a movie. Mr Bebe (Vlad Ivanov), the doctor who performs the illegal abortion is the most interesting character, the one that makes it all worth while. The struggling Otilia, played beautifully by Anamaria Marinca, goes through to protect her friend Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) and is the most touching and humble display of human emotions portrayed in the cinema for a very long time.

The beginning feels just a bit too long with many still scenes depicting the daily life of the characters, and that may put some viewers used to the fast paced movies off. At times it comes across as a student film, with the camera work just a bit too shaky. It is the kind of movie a family can go and watch together with their teenage children, since the visceral abortion scene will be enough to make any person think twice about unprotected sex.

This one definitely gets a thumbs up from me, though if you’re the kind who loves action, and thinks Hollywood movies are the best in the world, then this is not for you.

For Big City Red Neck