4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days (2007, Mungiu)

[fizz]

The gamut of questions buried beneath ‘4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days’ are not about whether abortion is right or wrong, but rather who should take the responsibility for giving rise to the circumstances that lead to it. Because a woman must bear the child, it is ultimately perceived as her burden, but the film, though presented entirely from the point of view of two women, wisely censures men for not being able to control their libido’s. Set during the late 80’s, at a time when abortion was still illegal and Romania was starting to brush off the influence of communism’s iron grip, ‘4 months’ becomes an unflinching cautionary tale that might make you cringe at the subject matter and its presentation, but is likely to leave a very indelible mark.

In true cinema verite style (think Dardenne brothers), the film follows Otilia as she embarks on the task of finalizing the arrangements to allow her pregnant best friend and roommate Gabita to undergo an illegal abortion at the hands of world weary, nefarious abortionist. The decisions that the girls have to make, from borrowing the money, arranging a room in a seedy hotel and bribing disgruntled receptionists with cigarette packs, feel uncomfortably sincere. The dialogues themselves have an uncanny natural feel that hit all the right notes. There is an extended dinner table scene of such realism that it made me both laugh and flinch at its direct brutality. The same holds true of the entire film itself, which is so dour yet full of such extreme circumstances that you are caught between discomfort and awe. The entire film unfolds, almost in real time, during the course of one day (the 2nd day, in the 3rd week of the 4th month of pregnancy). Both actresses and especially the vicious abortionist Mr. Bebe, collectively give one of the years finest onscreen performance. All of this leads to an ending scene at the hotel restaurant of bitter irony. A perfect film (deservedly winning this years Palme d’Or at Cannes) and one that signals, along with other recent films from this nation (last years terrific ‘Death of Mr. Lazarescu’), a new, reassuring Romanian wave.

Rating: 5/5

[X.]

Excellent review. Romania is indeed having its New Wave. Remember the superb "12:08 East of Bucharest"?

[fizz]

Ak...yes I remember that it screened here, but I never watched it. I am trying to look for it now, but have so far been unlucky.

Btw...we need a Romanian flag.

[madali]

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007, Mungiu)
IMDB Link

In America, 2007 was the movie year for celebrating unplanned pregnancy. In “Knocked Up”, a working single girl got pregnant due to a drunken night, but it turned out okay, because it brought love and companionship. In “Juno”, a teenage girl got pregnant due to experimentation in sex, but no worries, the baby not only helped in a coming of age story, but it also brought happiness to others. Finally, in “Waitress”, an unhappy wife got pregnant by accident, but nothing helps a woman stand on her own feet than an accidental baby.

And in all three, abortion was slightly touched on, but ultimately frowned upon. It proved America’s usual bipolar personality. On one hand, champions of liberalism for giving the stamp of approval for unplanned pregnancy for teens, one night stands, and single parenthood, but with enough conservatism blood to not even seriously contemplate abortion. And to blend these two, usually incompatible ideologies, requires a bit of fantasy, and that’s where those movies came in. It all turned out okay in the end.

But wait. Before you throw out all the condoms or poke tiny holes in them, and use them for a massive night of fucking and sucking and cum showers, you better check out “4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days”. In this Romanian movie, there is no nice soothing background music, no witty dialogue, no hilarious situations, no easy solutions, only grueling and heart wrenching look at a young girl’s attempt to help her friend get an illegal abortion, in 1980’s communist regime.

I’m not going to focus too much on the Romania of this movie, because it is an unfair Romania. While it is in the communist regime and not today’s Romania, I can sympathize with some IMDB user’s complaints that movies like these are made for western’s image of Romania. I do not know the real Romania, but I do know how some of Iranian festival movies are, made almost exclusively for how westerns want Iran to look like.

Still, movies are like stereotypes. No matter how unfair they are, they do still have a certain truth in them. Stereotypes do not pop up from nothing, and movies have a certain basis of truth in them.

But let’s focus on the abortion instead. Because the story would ring true if the abortion was in any country that does not legalize it, such as the Middle East. I’ve read some comments that the story is not abortion, but fuck them. Yes, I guess, I can say it is about freedom and tyranny, but ultimately, I applaud the movie for not being political, or at the very least, directly political. We do not have Gestapo thugs breaking doors and skulls. We do have a sort of grey blanket over the city, but to me, any two girl in the situation they were in, would see the world in that light.

While I enjoyed all three American movies I mentioned, I have to congratulate Romania for taking a more honest and daring approach to the subject.

4/5

[theoddball]

But wait. Before you throw out all the condoms or poke tiny holes in them, and use them for a massive night of fucking and sucking and cum showers...

Hahaha! A Mad review won't be complete without the now-ubiquitous porn phrase.

Honestly, though, that's a great review.

[madali]

Thanks!

[animatedude]

caught this on DVD the other day.wow.