4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days entices you with a Golden Palm from Cannes, a thriller-style trailer, and a question that the movie's summary answers for you. What are these women doing that's so dangerous? They're arranging an illegal abortion in 1980s communist Romania. 4 Months fits so firmly into a realist style that it's impossible to derive the message of the movie. If abortion is a sensitive subject for you, 4 Months will rile you regardless of where you place yourself on the socio-political spectrum. If you're able to stomach the grit, read on and consider the film.
Otilia helps her college roommate and best friend Gabriela arrange an abortion. For 1987 Romania, both abortion and contraception are illegal, along with plenty of other things. The girls live a life furnished with contraband, and Otilia's able to obtain this dangerous procedure by way of her finely honed skills in manipulation. Gabriela is highly irresponsible: her bad memory, white lies, and apprehension jeopardize the whole arrangement. Otilia and Gabriela must re-negotiate with the abortionist when he discovers Gabriela's already into her second trimester.
4 Months is told from Otilia's point of view. Gabriela may be having the abortion, but the procedure is Otilia's burden to bear. We see her arrange everything in secret, dodge questions from her boyfriend and his family, and assist Gabriela with the horrific outcomes. We don't gain insight on how Gabriela and Otilia became close friends, or what happens to their friendship after this ordeal, but we know the extent of Otilia's fierce loyalty. Her actions may even be unrealistic - there are always limits to what friends will do for each other. I don't think any of the other characters can be criticized this way. The abortionist is a devilish man in the guise of a strict doctor. Gabriela is stupid and frightened but determined and strong.
The movie is squarely realistic. This will seem initially slow due to the long takes and minimal editing. The entire film looks like it's been shot with a hand-held camera, but this won't make you sick, since most of the scenes involve casual dialog in homes and hotel rooms. There is a bit of excitement in the movie, when we follow Otilia in a thrilling "chase" scene, but most of the dramatic elements are brought by the content.
There's nothing glamorous or romanticized about 4 Months - the content is dramatic, but the settings is run down and desperate, the characters ruthlessly pragmatic. The soundscapes of the city are beautiful and strange at day, terrifying by night, and completely void of music. The editing and writing are superb for the style: the events are not spelled out for you, but every scene has importance to the story or characters.
The elephant in the room is the pro life/choice question. There is one clear message for the audience: illegal abortions are terrible. You can take this message in a few different ways. All abortions are horrible and should be banned. Illegal abortion is horrible, so safe and legal abortions should be made available. The characters are complex and not very sympathetic, so the value judgments are left wide open.
You would expect to see some appalling imagery, but the movie purposefully leaves these depictions out with the exception of one final scene, tightly packed with anticipation. Oh yes, it goes there, it does that, and you know I kept my eyes shut through it.
I can see why 4 Months is so widely acclaimed. It's an emotionally charged powder-keg that deserves a permanent spot on your list of heavy-hitters. It's unique in its attempt to remain neutral on the social issues. It's realistic without falling into any of the trappings of melodramas posing as realism. It's engaging, but probably not destined to be anyone's favorite movie. Is there such a thing as too real?
Otilia helps her college roommate and best friend Gabriela arrange an abortion. For 1987 Romania, both abortion and contraception are illegal, along with plenty of other things. The girls live a life furnished with contraband, and Otilia's able to obtain this dangerous procedure by way of her finely honed skills in manipulation. Gabriela is highly irresponsible: her bad memory, white lies, and apprehension jeopardize the whole arrangement. Otilia and Gabriela must re-negotiate with the abortionist when he discovers Gabriela's already into her second trimester.
4 Months is told from Otilia's point of view. Gabriela may be having the abortion, but the procedure is Otilia's burden to bear. We see her arrange everything in secret, dodge questions from her boyfriend and his family, and assist Gabriela with the horrific outcomes. We don't gain insight on how Gabriela and Otilia became close friends, or what happens to their friendship after this ordeal, but we know the extent of Otilia's fierce loyalty. Her actions may even be unrealistic - there are always limits to what friends will do for each other. I don't think any of the other characters can be criticized this way. The abortionist is a devilish man in the guise of a strict doctor. Gabriela is stupid and frightened but determined and strong.
The movie is squarely realistic. This will seem initially slow due to the long takes and minimal editing. The entire film looks like it's been shot with a hand-held camera, but this won't make you sick, since most of the scenes involve casual dialog in homes and hotel rooms. There is a bit of excitement in the movie, when we follow Otilia in a thrilling "chase" scene, but most of the dramatic elements are brought by the content.
There's nothing glamorous or romanticized about 4 Months - the content is dramatic, but the settings is run down and desperate, the characters ruthlessly pragmatic. The soundscapes of the city are beautiful and strange at day, terrifying by night, and completely void of music. The editing and writing are superb for the style: the events are not spelled out for you, but every scene has importance to the story or characters.
The elephant in the room is the pro life/choice question. There is one clear message for the audience: illegal abortions are terrible. You can take this message in a few different ways. All abortions are horrible and should be banned. Illegal abortion is horrible, so safe and legal abortions should be made available. The characters are complex and not very sympathetic, so the value judgments are left wide open.
You would expect to see some appalling imagery, but the movie purposefully leaves these depictions out with the exception of one final scene, tightly packed with anticipation. Oh yes, it goes there, it does that, and you know I kept my eyes shut through it.
I can see why 4 Months is so widely acclaimed. It's an emotionally charged powder-keg that deserves a permanent spot on your list of heavy-hitters. It's unique in its attempt to remain neutral on the social issues. It's realistic without falling into any of the trappings of melodramas posing as realism. It's engaging, but probably not destined to be anyone's favorite movie. Is there such a thing as too real?