Review of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) by Roger S — 18 Feb 2010

4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days is an utterly brilliant film. A disturbing and unflinching look at a crisis moment in the friendship of two young women, the film is more than deserving of its Palme D'or at the Cannes Film Festival.

The story is set during the mid-1980's in communist Romania. Though not overtly political, the presence of harsh communist rule is ever present in the plot of this film, adding a tense sense of impending doom.

The performances in this film are astounding. The two lead females are undeniably real, so much so, that it doesn't feel like a film at all. It feels like real life caught on tape. In part due to the outstanding acting, the true genius of the film lies in writer/director Cristian Mungiu's brilliant script and exquisite direction. Mungiu has stated that Vittorio de Sica's Bicycle Thieves was a major influence on him in terms of cinematic realism. Realism could not be better exemplified than in his own 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days.

The film does not drag a bit. We enter the lives of two women who are college roommates in a dormitory. At first, we are unsure of what they are planning. But soon enough, we find out. From there the film plunges horrifically into the depths of desperation. What happens is frightening, disgusting, disturbing, but so wonderfully portrayed and artistically rendered that it is impossible not to watch.

This film is a landmark in world cinema. I envision it going down as a classic. Though the story of the film depends on its communist era setting, the final years of Nicolae Ceausescu's rule, the story is still timeless. It embraces universal themes of friendship and desperation. The film won tons of awards at virtually every film festival it screened at. Aside from winning the Cannes' Palme D'or, it also won Best Film and Best Director at the 2007 European Film Awards. To put it bluntly, this film is an absolute must-see. Few films bite as hard as this one. Even fewer resonate so profoundly. A masterpiece from beginning to end.