4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days
IFC First Take 113mins NR

Stars


Written and Directed 
by Cristian Mungiu

Cristian Mungiu's previous film “The Death Of Mr. Lazarescu” was an exciting trip through the Romanian medical bureaucracy and justly won quite a few major awards, and his followup also has a medical theme to it, although it has quite a different twist.

It's the late 1980s and the Revolution has yet to occur. Abortion is still illegal in Romania at the time and Gabita(Laura Vasiliu) is in a spot of trouble. So her roommate Otilia(Anamaria Marinca) agrees to help do something about it.

This includes getting a hotel room and picking up Bebe(Vlad Ivanov) the abortionist, who is ticked off about all sorts of things because Gabita is a ninny, Otilia has to go around cleaning up various messes and go to her boyfriend Adi's place(Alex Potocean), where one of his parents his having a party, all the while trying to keep a dozen or so knives in the air. 

Like “Lazarescu” This film has a matter-of-fact air about it, a lanky attitude, which belies the seriousness of the situation. Ms. Marinca gives a splendid performance, giving Otilia the quiet desperation required of the character. We really feel for her as she runs around like a chicken without a head in a particularly businesslike way, which is how Mungiu wants it, deep, yet detached. 

This is well worth the time and one can understand all the kudos.


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