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ON THE SHELF: Cristian Mungiu, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007)
05/22/2009 2007 was a popular year for unplanned pregnancies. Cinematically, I mean. It was an especially kind time for movie characters that decided to keep their unexpected guests and live happily ever after. But one film went a different path. It struck a more serious tone, avoided any cliché ending, and went on to claim numerous awards and widespread critical praise. It may not have been as commercially successful as either Juno or Knocked Up, but what it lacked in commerce it made up for in quality. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is a taut drama that really sinks its teeth into you once the pacing picks up. The first 30 minutes or so are a little slow, but after the stage is set for one character’s abortion, time flies by. The two leads (Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu) are easy to like and fantastic to watch, which is good, considering how many long takes are in the film. Vlad Ivanov only has a few major scenes as the doctor who ultimately performs the surgery, but he makes his time count. 4 Months is not the only modern film to deal with the issue of abortion in a serious manner. Three years prior, Mike Leigh did the same thing with Vera Drake, pulling a fierce, Oscar-nominated performance from the wonderful Imelda Staunton. That film was slow, too, but unfortunately, it never built up any steam, and the majority of what went on was implied. There are moments in 4 Months when the audience is left to imagine certain horrors for themselves, but not everything is hidden from us. You see partial remains of a fetus on the floor, so be prepared for that. A notable special feature on the DVD is a documentary (roughly around 15 minutes) entitled “1 Month with 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.” It’s an interesting short piece that follows a projectionist and a few others across Romania, where the film was set. It’s an eye-opener for those of us fortunate enough to have theatres in America. In the country where the movie was shot, most moviegoers haven’t viewed a film in an actual theatre for years. One man states that there are only 37 theatres left in all of Romania. Even with bad films out, I can’t imagine going a few months without a trip to the movie house, let alone a few years. Along with yet another product of the 2007 period, Lake of Fire, this film is one of the best cinematic works dealing with the controversial topic of abortion. It may not make you feel light and fluffy when it’s all said and done, but it steers clear of the superficial. And that’s always a welcomed decision. Comments [post a comment]Comments are closed |
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Sunday, March 14, 2010
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Movies Cinema Romania Abortion 4 Months