4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days

‘4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’ is one amazing film that probes the instinctive judgment of men. Brilliantly directed by Christian Mungiu, the film centres around a woman who helps her friend undergo an illegal abortion in the 1980s Communist-ruled Romania.

We have a university student Otilia (Marinca) arranging an abortion for her friend Gabriela (Laura Vasiliu), even as the two know that they could be in jail for the offence. Everything appears to go in the right direction until the girls realise that the abortionist, Bebe, has his own plans.

The script offers the actors an excellent role, and Anamaria brings out the best for her portrayal of Otilia who tries to balance time for boyfriend Adi and her friend.

The director has successfully managed to inject a sense of realism into the frame and the plot. The dark realities of the period are also very well reflected in shadowy sets. The experiments with long uncut shots detailing every move of his characters also bring out their moods. This abortion drama is also notable for not having any background music.

The natural sound gives a sense of realism which further provokes a reaction. And unlike the typical American teen-pregnancy flicks, this must-see film offers an intriguing look at certain issues like abortion within our limited outlook.

Romanian (English subtitle)
Cast: Anamaria Marinca, Vlad Ivanov, Laura Vasiliu, Alexandru Potoceanu, Luminita Gheorghiu, Adrian Carauleanu
Director: Christian Mungiu