A story shot with the utmost simplicity that engages a multitude of emotions and tensions. I've never seen a movie with such a bare minimum of technique be so effective! It takes a little while to get warmed up, but when it hits, it hits hard. There were some long-winded static moments that I though unnecessary, but the movie's powerful performances are undeniable. A movie I'm glad to have experienced.
Brisk and psychical. This second viewing unearthed epiphanies I would have otherwise been too spooked to comprehend in my prior sojourn.
Make sure we keep abortion and contraception legal, and let's work on legalizing the other stuff that puritans frown on.
Stands as one of the most vivid portrayals of how personal rights were affected in the Soviet Union. The intense, controlled performances and the beautiful hyper-realist style is uncompromising and genuine. It leaves you considering the limits of desperation and friendship.
I'm sorry to disagree with you, but Romania during the time frame of the movie had nothing to do with the Soviet union-wich drew praze from the west. The reason abortion was forbiden where beacause of Ceausescu's own stupid reasons
Romania was a Communist state until the very end of the 1980s, this film takes place in approximately 1987. If Romania was a Soviet-oriented state until 1989, then my brief comment about personal rights in the Soviet Union is accurate. I didn't say this was about Soviet abortion laws at all. In reality this film was about Romanian abortion laws, but the film stands as a microcosm for what was happening all over other Soviet states, with many infringements onto human rights aside from abortion legality.
A tough film to watch, not in terms of graphic content, but rather due to the expertly crafted tension and deeply harrowing subject matter. Woke me up out of my privileged slumber. Highly recommended.
My friend Tom recommended this film. Unbelievable tension in the mise en scene, and great acting from the characters who must learn their lines for 5+ minute scenes of dialog. A great aspect of the film was its ability to portray all the hassles of life in communist Romania and all the little things we might take for granted here like reserving a hotel room. A deserved Palme D'or winner.
This is truly great film - slow, thoughtful, utterly brilliant. It should have taken the Foreign Film category at both the BAFTAs and OSCARS but since it wasn't sent out as a screener to members, not enough of them saw it. Great shame because it is one of the finest viscerally real films ever made. Marinca is a great talent - see her in David Yates' (now Harry Potter director) Channel 4s SEX TRAFFIC - again superb!
It's a Historical drama! It's a thriller! It's both, actually, and when in the hands of the talented Cristian Mungiu, it truly soars. Told in what feels like real-time, 4 Months is a film about a young woman who is looking to procure an abortion for her roommate/friend in communist Romania. That's all I'll say, for it is too masterful to spoil. Simple, yet unsettling, 4 Months is a masterpiece. And the end kills me.
I haven't seen such a brilliant rendering of "less is more" direction since Knife in the Water.
The scene at dinner when the phone starts ringing and she can't go pick it up... wow... we feel so helpless and tense.
I really didn't like the beginning but once they got in that hotel room I started to really lover it. Great stuff.
Gripping and amazingly powerful. I don't say this about too many movies but the subject matter is so in your face, how you feel about this movie may depend on how you feel about the topic at hand.
Exploitative cynical s&m porn thinly disguised as an uninspired derivative Dardennes knock-off European art film. Somebody should have aborted the Cannes jury.
stressful and gives me nightmare. a good movie though.but if yer a mother or about to be, you'll find it very stressful and sad.
Heart breaking and nerve racking. I did some quick research on Communist Romania afterwards, and it made the film that much more powerful.
I agree with the Haneke comparison, Josh. 4m3w2d is like Haneke but with more emotion, which, naturally, makes me like it more than his work. Great ending too with the "chopped up brains, bones,...". I still cringe and squirm when that probe goes in. Also compositionally much tighter than Haneke.
Flashes of Haneke. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is one of the most tense thrillers I've ever seen.
