4 Luni 3 Saptamani si 2 Zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days)
4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days is a Romanian film that depicts the lives of two room-mates, one of whom decides to undergo abortion through a black-market doctor. The traumatic feelings experienced by them in the process forms the plot.
Plot: The film opens with two room-mates Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) and Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) getting ready to meet a black-market doctor named Bebe. Gabita , the one who wants to get aborted is tensed and confused so she asks Otilia to book a room at a hotel as instructed by the doctor. Otilia books a room for 3 days and meets the doctor Bebe . On reaching the hotel the doctor is annoyed as he asked Gabita to book a room in a specific hotel. Gabita had told him that she was 2 months but the doctor eventually finds out she is 4 months pregnant. The doctor refuses to insert the probe and demands more money . The two girls are helpless in the hotel and they promise to give him the remaining sum in a week’s time but the doctor doesn't agree. When the doctor gets too heavy on them. Otilia realises what he really wants and sleeps with him to get Gabita aborted. The doctor inserts the probe and tells Gabita not to move until the foetus comes out . Otilia locks Gabita in the room and leaves for her boyfriend’s home as she had promised him that she would attend his mom’s birthday party. Otilia is irritated by the atmosphere in her boyfriend’s home as everyone were talking on and on, so she leaves in a hurry to see what has happened to Gabita. She finds Gabita sleeping and when she asks about the probe Gabita says that the foetus has come out and it is in the bathroom. Otilia takes the foetus and disposes it from a nearby apartment . She returns to the hotel and finds Gabita dining. The both then decide not to talk about this incident ever.
The best thing about the movie is the fact that the story comprises of a series of struggles that the girls face in a day . The screenplay of the film is masterfully done with its simplistic approach and realistic depiction of the characters .All the actors do full justice to the characters . Especially in the hotel sequence with the doctor both the girls pull off a wonderful performance in depicting their anxiety , grief and confusion . The director who has also written this intense story has worked so much on the screenplay which makes us render our feelings for the character Otilia. The cinematography is apt and suits the mood of the film. A larger portion of the film is shot with handheld and steadycam shots.
There is a particular scene where Otilia dines in her boyfriend’s home ,here many might not understand why it is so long and meaningless. Many might get frustrated, irritated and restless after a while. But that is exactly what the director wants us to feel. He plays with his audience through his film. What a brilliant idea ! For those who has seen it, will understand. Your feelings will be exactly what Otilia was feeling.
This is not an anti-abortion movie as the director said. There is no political statement. It depicts the daily life of a few Romanians during that period (1980s) and you can feel it through this movie.
For all foreign film lovers this film is a must watch .
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Wins
- Cannes Film Festival
- Golden Palm
- FIPRESCI prize
- Cinema Prize of the French National Education System
- European Film Awards
- Best European Film
- Best European Director
- Hollywood Film Festival
- Hollywood World Award (Best Film)
- San Sebastián International Film Festival
- FIPRESCI Film of the Year
- Stockholm Film Festival
- Bronze Horse (Best Film)
- Best Actress
- National Board of Review
- Top Five Foreign Films
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association
- Best Foreign Film
- Best Actress (runner-up)
- Best Supporting Actor
- Sight & Sound Films of 2007
- Best Film
- Chicago Film Critics Association
- Best Foreign Language Film
- New York Film Critics Circle
- Best Foreign Language Film
- National Society of Film Critics
- Best Foreign Language Film
- Toronto Film Critics Association
- Best Foreign Language Film
