DVD Review: “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”
Rating: 89
While he was executing his political enemies and robbing his country of its treasure, Nicolae Ceausescu enforced a policy of privation and oppression that kept the Romanians in “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” in a constant state of agitation and dread. Director Cristian Mungiu follows a young college student named Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) as she spends an entire day trying to help her pregnant roommate Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) obtain an abortion, and the film is a disturbing depiction of a big problem made worse by a police state.
Gabita is a walking disaster who fails to meet nearly all the vile underground abortionist’s stipulations, and Otilia is the only one who can keep Gabita focused. Otilia sacrifices greatly for her friend, who is hardly her equal, and “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” details what Otilia is willing to do for her friend, and much of it is just devastating.
Mungiu’s masterstroke is a dinner scene in Otilia’s boyfriend’s home. Otilia has endured a horrible act of violence and subjugation, and must sit at a dinner party as mindless chatter surrounds her. Mungiu does not let go of Marinca’s face during the extended scene, and it is a painful but unforgettable shot. The DVD features a making-of documentary and interviews with Mungiu and cinematographer Oleg Mutu, but “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” hardly needs special features to augment its uncompromising story.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment