4 MONTHS 3 WEEKS & 2 DAYS (includes trailer)
October 21st 2010 21:57
winner of the 2007 Palm D'Or
Every now and then, not often, a film will hit you with every one of it’s elements. It will burn it’s images into your brain and as you sit watching it, it will not let you go. Each piece of it, being striking, in a absolutely refreshing way, an example of one of these films is, 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days and in this case it is a masterpiece.
Written and directed by Cristian Mungiu and winner of the Palm D’Or in 2007. This compelling drama is set in the twilight years of the communism in Romania. Two university students and flat mates, Gabita (Laura Vasilu) and Otilia (Anamaria Marinca), will fly under the radar for the first half an hour to get a hotel room. It is never stated in terms of exposition what is happening or what these two woman are doing until we are already in the deep end - and once we are - the film sets you off in a trance of apprehension and revelation as all the fragile pieces of the story emerge.
Gabita and Otilia have a man sent up to their room. Otilia is helping Gabita get an illegal abortion, and they have put them selves into the hands of the wrong man. These woman only realize how deep of a situation they are in once there is no going back, and that is why the structuring of this film is so good. The whole thing really feels like you followed them blindly into their own problem.
Stuck in the middle with you
The centrepiece of this film lies in Otilia having to take account for what, so far, has become a harrowing situation and could easily get worse. Since Gabita is at the mercy of this situation and has no place in the story to be taking any real action, it’s her friend Otilia who’s point of view will be the focus of the film, essentially making this an exploration of how far she went for someone else.
This film never tries to be more than it has to be, it has the confidence and subtlety to believe in itself and brilliance is the result of it doing so. The subject matter and material alone is enough to let the film ride on it’s strengths but it doesn’t stop there. There’s a nervous sensation you develop while watching this film, like if something bad happens in the course of this story, it will be your fault. This comes from the astonishing and virtuosic cinematography, extended shots, long takes and sublime acting. The director creates a fragile film where you and everyone in it are having to walk on egg shells, which surprisingly makes for a tense experience in a unique way.
How far would you go for a friend
4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days develops a rhythm to it which sucks you in and makes for a compelling watch, it sort of reminded me of the feeling you get when you can’t put a good book down, I myself couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen. The photography of these troubled woman and their problematic situation create images in the film that you will be able to visualize for years to come. In many ways, ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’ reminded me of Tim Roth’s film, The War Zone. They both share a quality of using bittersweet images of perfection to emotionally enhance what is at stake and use the voyeuristic cinematography to attach, permanently to you, the unfolding of these events.
4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days may be a grim film but it is an astonishing one and a beautifully made one at that and it has left it’s mark on me.
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Comment by Catherine Stebbins
Thoughts from a Cinephile
Thoughts from a TV Watcher
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
David, was Shaun a naughty boy then?
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It seemed to have such an agenda underlying and I felt manipulated by its execution to the point where I turned it off after an hour. Just didn't connect with the characters and worse still didn't care about their fates.
Maybe I was just in a bad mood when i watched it but the subject matter just didn't interest me that much.
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
David - I'll check out your review mate, thanks for reading.
Bryn - I think you might get something out of this
JD - Hey buddy, sorry to hear that, but man, half an hour? - that doesn't give you much of a case....the film gets very absorbing after half an hour, it sort of commands your attention effortlessly as it unfolds..