“Trust is vital”

This film is a complete enigma. I love it and I hate it simultaneously. Taking place towards the end of communist controlled Romania, the story follows two women in their journey to have a safe illegal abortion. Director Cristian Mungiu handles this baby with so much care unlike the characters he places on screen. Every single aspect of this film is done with immaculate execution.

For starters, the story is terrible. By terrible, I mean nihilistic and gut-wrenching. I don’t think anyone can say they enjoyed watching this film, but that doesn’t mean that the screenplay is bad. I really think that the film was enhanced by it being not of my mother tongue. It created a…

If I had known that this film was set in '80s Romania and centred around an abortion I probably wouldn't have watched it. As it happens, I'm glad I did. '4 Months' is tough and sometimes horrifying, but it is an interesting and important film.

The way this film is written and shot is comparable to a play; the takes are long and the camera is always static during dialogue, only moving when Otilia does. This was particularly effective during the dinner party scene, where the viewer has the opportunity to see everyone acting, rather than seeing one person say their lines and then watching everyone else react, which is how such scenes are normally shot. No pivotal dialogue is…

You may feel the need to have a good, hot shower (or two) at the conclusion of 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days. The movie is gritty, dark, cold and depressing. But sitting above all that is the fact that it’s undeniably compelling; despite its repugnant subject matter.

Taking place in communist Romania in 1987, we start our story in a student dormitory where we follow a young lady named Otilia as she goes about morning business. Looking for friends to talk to, buying some cigarettes and other essentials. We can tell something is going on between her and her flat mate, Gabita, as if they are planning something important; though we’re not quite sure what. We follow Otilia throughout…

Well...this turned out to be somewhat of a disappointment given all the praise and awards. I thought I was going to be in for an emotionally-wrecking film experience instead I got a narrative that didn't quite create any sort of connection.

The performances were great and everything, with the highlight being the interaction with Gabita, Otilia and Mr. Bebe in the hotel room. Unfortunately nothing really stuck with me or impacted me really. Yeah, it was depressing, but at the same time it was very predictable.

I did, however, love the camerawork. Think static tableau shot (i.e. Akerman or Haneke) but done with slightly-shaky handheld giving the actions an undercurrent of unease and a sense of impending misfortunes. The handheld…

“Trust is vital”

This film is a complete enigma. I love it and I hate it simultaneously. Taking place towards the end of communist controlled Romania, the story follows two women in their journey to have a safe illegal abortion. Director Cristian Mungiu handles this baby with so much care unlike the characters he places on screen. Every single aspect of this film is done with immaculate execution.

For starters, the story is terrible. By terrible, I mean nihilistic and gut-wrenching. I don’t think anyone can say they enjoyed watching this film, but that doesn’t mean that the screenplay is bad. I really think that the film was enhanced by it being not of my mother tongue. It created a…

Around the World in May-ty Days Challenge
Movie #8 - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Romania)

Cristian Mungiu has a knack for making provocative movies on unsettling subjects in a very powerful and effective way. I first watched his latest movie "Beyond the Hills" and now this highly acclaimed, Palme d'Or winning movie and it proves it. What makes this movie one of the best of the decade is how skillfully a subject matter is taken that is controversial socially, it happens in a particular era which is important politically but the movie finds a perfect balance where neither does it feels highly political or presents some sort of angry social message but it rises above all that…

There is nothing uplifting about this, except that it's such a well-crafted movie. Without knowing anything about what is going on, I was sucked right into the movie from the first scene to the last.

I'm not a huge fan of shaky-cams but it does a lot to set the mood in this film. The camera movement and limited perspective matches the mental state of the protagonist so the viewer feels the thrillimg nerve through the eyes. And when the camera sits still during a dinner scene it's easy to zone out just like the protagonist does.
Add to that the stunningly miserable sets and locations that almost tell the story on their own.

The story is simple and comfortably…