4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

johnny_ultimate

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032846/

Anyone else seen this yet? Excellent Romanian drama about a student having an illegal abortion, with the focus on her friend who comes along to support her. Very interesting film: a very gritty and depressing one, but also a very human and realistic story. I think its fair to say its clearly anti-abortion (although more anti-illegal, dodgy, backstreet abortions) but manages to get its point across in a nuanced and subtle way (

with the exception of the powerful and disturbing foeutus shot towards the end

). Some fantastic performances (great scene at a dinner table where the silence of the lead character says everything), and carefully considered docu-drama style camera work.

Whatever your stance on the debate is, this film doesn't rub it in your face, and this is a character driven drama that simply shows one small part of a complex arguement. With a focus on everyday, mundane activities that its far more accessiable than the similarly themed, realistic 'The Death of Mr Lazeracu', which for all its richness, was a very challenging, uninvolving film. Good to see films of this calibre coming out of the young Eastern European film industry.

out on DVD now, so well worth a watch. Just don't expect light viewing!

Eirebear

Fantastic film, and definetly one ill be purchasing on DVD.

Went to see it with my wife, who worked in ROmania for 2 years at the turn of the century,
It was interesting to watch it after hearing her stories of the country as it was Post communism/Pre E.U and seeing them brought to life in films such as this.

As you say, not light hearted by any stretch of the imagination, but if you want something to make you think and something just that little bit different coming into blockbuster season then look it up.

Sad Professor

Yeah, great film. I felt it was less about abortion than about Communist era Romania which it depicts very strongly without ever becoming overtly political. It gives you a very good sense of what day-to-day life back then must have been like.

SP

johnny_ultimate

Sad Professor wrote: »

Yeah, great film. I felt it was less about abortion than about Communist era Romania which it depicts very strongly without ever becoming overtly political. It gives you a very good sense of what day-to-day life back then must have been like.

SP

It was definitely the day-to-day details that added to the whole effect. Constant references to the ID cards for example give you a subtle but powerful insight into the oppression.

And I agree it never becomes overtly political. Noone is ever really shown to be the badguy (

Even the abortionist, who apart from the shocking but excellently handled, unexploitative 'payment' sequence', seems to be a fairly fully formed character

) and it just makes us feel sorry for the people caught up in the whole system.

HungryJoe

The IFI are showing both 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and The Death of Mr Lazarescu next week as part of their New Romanian Cinema festival.

http://www.irishfilm.ie/cinema/season1_07.asp?SID=151

4 Months is on Saturday 7 June at 2:50 and Monday 9 June at 6pm. The Death of Mr Lazarescu's on Sunday at five.

calex71

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but just watching this on RTE 2 now, and my god it's hard to watch (rarely have i ever said that about a good movie), nearly cried at one point

Could be said its anti-abortion but I really don't think it is, it's just a very sad story, that probably isn't that far from reality in that time and place.

I'm really glad I didnt watch this at the cinema when it was here, as this is one of those movies that for me really isnt for watching with a crowd.