4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days - A-

On DVD (Finally)(2007). Rated R, 114 minutes. Trailer.

Rarely has such a fuss been made over a film's omission from the Best Foreign Film nominations as was made over just 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (winner of the Palm D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year). The Romanian abortion drama (I know, those 3 little words = fun!) was loved by critics but apparently not by the elderly foreign film selection committee. In any event the film is excellent, if challenging and bleak. It tells the story of the day in 1987 when a Romanian college student (Gabita) gets an abortion. The film is shot and the story is told through the perspective of the best friend (Otilia) and roommate of the girl getting the abortion. Click below on a dense and interesting film:

Writer/director Cristian Mungiu tells the story in a straighforward, mechanical fashion showcasing the impact of a communist state on the lives of its citizens. The lights flicker, certain brands of cigarettes are only sold on the black market, and the government determines where you go after university. The film begins in the dorm room of Gabita and Otilia as they prepare for what seems like a trip, with Otilia immediately taking charge and Otilia acting absentmindedly. The hand-held camera and angles chosen by Mungiu give the film a voyeuristic feel. We know what the girls are up to, but its not clear what the plan is until it unfolds.

After an afternoon of money borrowing, packing and hotel reservations, Otilia meets up with the abortionist, Adi, in an anonymous parking spot and rides with him to the hotel. The film is uncompromising in its presentation of the implications of abortion as a crime. Everything feels like and is arranged like a drug deal or a 'hit'. The participation in an illegal act renders the two women completely vulnerable to the brutal and exploitative Adi. Once in the hotel room, he belittles and threatens to leave until Otilia performs the ultimate act of friendship in order to keep him there to abort Gabita's baby.

Mungiu shows the abortion from the side, tastefully (if that's possible), and it is not graphic. As the recipient of the procedure, Gabita is a miniscule part of the film as Mungiu focuses on the impact of the situation on Otilia. This is masterfully done as she leaves Gabita to go to her boyfriend's house to for his mother's birthday dinner. The light, airy atmosphere in the home and the sniping, yuppy drivel spoken at the table juxtaposed with her day and what she is in process with is powerful stuff. The dinner scene is an extended shot of about 10 minutes, an unbelievable feat with great acting from Otilia. Her journey to the apartment and then back to Gabita is again beautifully, tragically shot. Once she returns and finds the fetus laying (visibly) on the bathroom floor of the hotel room, she helps Gabita and then leaves with the baby in her purse to dispose of it. Those are, of course wrenching 'nobody is a winner here' scenes. The film ends anti-climacticly with the two friends sharing dinner.

Whew. This film is not for everyone, that much should be obvious. It is hard to watch, unrelenting and depressing for the whole running time. The story, script, direction and acting are all intelligent and dense, leaving an indelible mark on me for the 3 days since I have seen it. As a film, its a clear A, but for me it is an A- because of how difficult it was. Mungiu explores lots of meaty themes like class warfare, women in society, abortion (duh), totalitarianism, education, consequences and sex. I am pro-life, and I did not find the film to be offensive or pushy on its agenda. Mungiu shades the dialogue with tinges of the irresponsibility that resulted in the pregnancy, and the fact that it is 1987 Romania obviously allows the viewer to place several distinguishing marks between it and a modern day Western country. Still, though, the implications of criminalized abortion are in plain view. There can be no denying it can make vulnerable women more so and empower the wrong kinds of people to take advantage of such situations.