Review of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) by Liam B — 17 Dec 2011

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is set during 1987 in communist Romania. The country is still two years away from the 1989 revolutions that will see Dictator Nicolai Ceausescu arrested and executed. The story is simplistic but powerful. We are introduced to two students named Gabriela (Laura Vasiliu) and Otilia (Anamaria Marinca). Gabriela is pregnant and wants an abortion, Otilia selflessly agrees to help her. Abortion is illegal but not for reasons of religious principle but due to Ceausescuâ(TM)s intention to command an ever expanding empire of civilians. Otilia goes above and beyond in her effort to aid her friend, taking care of everything from the booking of a hotel for the operation to discreetly take place, to raising the funds for the procedure herself. She seems to do everything for her Gabriela except have the abortion for her. Gabriella is presented as a rather clueless young woman, without Otilia to guide her she would have no survival instincts to fall back on. How has she survived into her early twenties in a society that obviously requires such great strength, bravery and at times ruthlessness?

Throughout the course of a day, we follow the two friends as their plans are hindered by acts of deceit, cruelty, desperation and naivety in a community where the inhabitants all seem to have a menacing demeanour, even the hotel staff are spiteful. The abortionist, Mr Bebe (Vlad Ivanov), suggests that a hotel will be a safe place to perform the operation, despite his concerns that he might be a victim of a police sting. Any comfort we seek in this â~doctorâ(TM) quickly evaporates when we realise that this will not be a simple transaction, he has other intentions in mind. Bebe is a cruel and dishonestly selfish person who abuses his power by shamelessly taking advantage of two young women in need, despite attempting to justify his disgusting behaviour. He is essentially a product of a hateful society.

As the film progresses, we watch Otilia sacrifice herself in various ways for her friend, she is unquestionably the true heroine of the film, a shining light of goodness in a world corrupt to the core. Even the pregnant Gabriela is revealed as deceitful, having lied to her friend for her own advantage, causing Otilia a devastating experience that she will remember for the rest of her life. A haunting scenario that we as viewers will also remember long after the film had ended.

The mise en scene is masterfully crafted throughout. The setting is bleak and the restless camera-work elaborates the uneasy mood of the film. There is no background score and the sets are shot with naturalistic (and often minimal) light. This adds an additional atmosphere of desperation into a world where simple luxuries such as cigarettes, milk and sugar are shown to be a privilege and a struggle to obtain. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days does not have any background music and the spectacle of life plays out naturally without any elaborate dramatization. However, it is this very realism that captures your attention, leaving you on the edge of your seat for the duration.

It must be stated that this film does not present a morality debate regarding the issue of abortion. No matter what your stance on the issue, you canâ(TM)t help but empathise deeply with the young womenâ(TM)s predicament and care wholeheartedly for their safety. Director, Cristian Mungiu is not concerned with constructing a film which will allow him to express his own opinion on the subject; even the numerical listing of the filmâ(TM)s title suggests a lack of narrative observation.

Although 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is not easy viewing and considering the subject matter, not a film to you can really describe as â~entertainingâ(TM), it is nevertheless an outstanding piece of filmmaking, a refined yet emotional piece of work guided by highly affective character studies. A firm and frank look at how fascism destroyed the economy of a nation and the effect this had on its civilians. A reminder of how far behind the rest of the developed world Eastern Europe was throughout most of the 20th century.

In the years since the fall of European communism, former soviet filmmakers have finally been allowed the freedom to tell the stories they were denied the right to at the time. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days was very well received by critics and won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival in 2007. It is considered the most successful of the â~Romanian New Wave cinemaâ(TM) movement which emerged in the early 2000s and boasted other significant releases like The Death of Mr Lazarescu and Police, Adjective.

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is an important and powerful cinematic achievement which leaves a lasting impact on the viewer regardless of their stance on the issues it presents.