4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007)

A woman assists her friend in arranging an illegal abortion in 1980s Romania.

Director:

Cristian Mungiu

Writer:

Cristian Mungiu

Stars:

Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 39 wins & 55 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anamaria Marinca	...	Otilia Mihartescu
Laura Vasiliu	...	Gabita Dragut
Vlad Ivanov	...	Viorel Bebe
Alexandru Potocean	...	Adi Radu (as Alex Potocean)
Luminita Gheorghiu	...	Gina Radu
Adi Carauleanu	...	Dr. Radu
Liliana Mocanu	...	Unireal Hotel Receptionist
Tania Popa	...	Night Receptionist
Teodor Corban	...	Unireal Hotel Receptionist (as Teo Corban)
Cerasela Iosifescu	...	Tineretului Hotel Receptionist
Doru Ana	...	Benzanirul
Eugenia Bosânceanu	...	Viorel Bebe's Mother
Ion Sapdaru	...	Dr. Rusu (as Ioan Sapdaru)
Cristina Burbuz	...	Marie-Jeanne Rusu (as Cristina Buburuz)
Marioara Sterian	...	Adela Racoviceanu

Storyline

Romania, 1987, the brutal Ceausescu communist regime is in place; birth control is illegal and abortion is a crime punishable by death. Gabita (Laura Vasliu) is almost five months into an unwanted pregnancy and in meek desperation turns to her friend and roommate, Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) for help in organizing an illegal termination. Unfortunate circumstances force the two women to use an unwanted male abortionist, Bebe (Vlad Ivanov). The bleakness of the storyline expresses a dark socio-political critique in the twilight years of a repressive dictatorship.

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Plot Keywords:

abortion | communist | romania | illegal abortion | female nudity | 

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Taglines:

How far would you go for a friend?

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Romania Belgium

Language:

Romanian

Release Date:

14 September 2007 (Romania)

Also Known As:

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

Filming Locations:

Romania

Box Office

Budget:

€590,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$51,712, 27 January 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,185,783, 4 May 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mobra Films,Centrul National al Cinematografiei (CNC),Mindshare Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The controversial subject of abortion is not brought up until 30 minutes into the film's runtime.

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Goofs

When Bebe takes Otilia on a detour to his neighborhood, a few Dacia cars have rear and front bumpers, which were introduced in 1994. The mirror on Bebe's car is also post-1990.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[subtitled version]
Otilia: OK.
Gabriela 'Gabita' Dragut: Thanks.

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Connections

References The Thorn Birds (1983)

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Soundtracks

Te and mureu
Written by Aurel Giorveanu and Mihai Dumbrava
Performed by Angela Similea and Cornel Constantiniu

User Reviews

Brutal but brilliant film-making.

Winner of last years Palme d'Or this Romanian film set in the eighties and is a cross between Richard Linklater's 2001 film 'Tape', in that the majority of the action takes place in one room between three central characters and Mike Leigh's 2004 film 'Vera Drake' in that its central theme is illegal abortion. It is a film about the human condition, trust, betrayal, the extremes people have to go to sometimes and the consequences that follow certain actions. It has two great performances from the college roommates Otilia and Gabita from their introduction to us as they make plans for a trip through to the grizzly outcome that concludes the film. The setting is grim and the bleached out film stock adds to the jittery camera work and gives an uneasy feeling throughout, instantly you are transported to a time where people barter with tic tacs, cigarettes and powdered milk and the promise of sugar is a dream to many and a reality to only a few. Gabita's predicament and subsequent journey both physically and mentally are what drives the film but its shown mainly through the eyes of her friend and roommate Otilia who as well as making and carrying out the arrangements has to make some startling sacrifices and ones that she will have memory of forever, as will you the audience long after the film has finished. Although not an easy watch and considering the subject matter not something you can say you 'enjoyed' it is none the less a brilliant piece of film-making, subtle and emotive with very real character studies. A brutal in your face look at a bleak time in history, how a leader destroyed the economy of a country and what that did to everyday life and a reminder of how far behind the rest of us Eastern Europe was before the fall of the Iron curtain and particularly Romania before the Revolution of 1989.