4 Months, 3 weeks And 2 Days on DVD (2007)

Deathly dull

A customer from Surrey, UK , 28/07/2008

Once again all the positive reviews of this film are 'worthy'.

When you break it down to reality this is an exceedingly dull piece of filmmaking. Makes you wonder what you have to do to win these awards. . . . let's see . . . .

1. Does the film look ugly. . . . tick!

2. Is the subject matter worthy or controversial. . . . tick!

3. Is it dull as a viewing experience. . . . tick!

4. Is it subtitled. . . . . double tick for that one!

5. Are there supposedly meaningful lingering shots or interminable scenes. . . .tick, tick, tick!!!!!!

Hmmmmm, will think twice about 'award winning films' in future then!!

If you want to be entertained, avoid this one!

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Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days

Burtonbach from Abertawe [Highly rated reviewer] , 21/07/2008

An uncomfortable, bleak , but nonethless hypnotic watch as we see this Romanian offering from director Christian Mungui that took the main prize at Cannes last year. In the dying embers of the Ceausescu regime when abortion was illegal we see Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) a young student who is over four months pregnant and seeks an illegal abortion aided by loyal friend and room-mate Otilia (AnaMarina Marinca ). They engage the services of Variel (Vlad Ivanov) a lecherous, furtive, but experienced back street abortionist who agrees for a price to conduct the abortion in a hotel room. There are a few hiccups along the way, before both girls find themselves in a the bleak surroundings of a state hotel room taking huge risks as they wait for the procedure to run it's course. Otilia has a boyfriend Adi (Alexandru Potocean) who becomes suspicious when she makes an excuse to leave a family celebration early and appears both nervous and wound up at the same time, eventually forcing her to tell him the truth as she hurries back to the hotel room to check on Gabita's progress. It's a harsh, blunt, and realistic portrayal of Communist Romania , that focuses on the abortion but is really speaking volumes about the regime. The story spans a three or four day period, and the opressive atmosphere created throughout by some wonderful backdrops and cinematography that gnaws at your humanity. It's a dour subject , yet the performance by Ms Marinca in particular just fills you with nothing but admiration not only for her' gutsy' loyality to her friend but her coolness and determination to see the whole thing through to the end despite her fear and misgivings, without her the plan would surely have been doomed to failure. There is one scene at a dinner party thrown for her boyfriend's mother that I could identify with so much, she hardly speaks whilst she is surrounded by a tirade of highly animated conversation, but what she doesn't say speaks volumes. It really struck a chord with me, and was one of the high points. Not a film you could watch over and over again as I would imagine it could be distressing for many people simply because of it's graphic portrayal of a sensitive subject, that said a worthy winner at Cannes. In a word.........Haunting.

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A film to think about, difficult to be detached but beautifully paced

A customer from manchester, england , 21/01/2008

This film did well at Cannes and one was sceptical whether it was another piano teacher, but this film was fabulous.Tthe characters are real and deep. It does horror by suggestion most effectively indeed. it offers great insight for life in oppression and tackles the difficult issue of abortion in a multifaceted and provacative way. all in all a great, great movie.

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Brilliant

A customer from Woking , 23/03/2008

I saw this movie in Cannes. I can't wait till the DVD is released in UK. This is a masterpiece.

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No time to watch

JoG from Bradford [Highly rated reviewer] , 08/09/2008

Will have to get another time. No time to see.

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A technical masterpiece, but... Yikes!

Andybe from Richmond [Highly rated reviewer] , 11/06/2008

This film is a real downer. I suppose the subject of abortions (illegal or otherwise) isn't exactly uplifting, but this film is as grey and dismal as the iron curtain culture it portrays.

The director does a very good job of putting the viewer into the shoes of Otilia, the main character who helps her friend obtain an illegal abortion. You'll be as angry as Otilia at many elements of the story - the stupidity of Gabita (the character getting the abortion), the person performing the abortion, Otilia's boyfriend and his family. Only Otilia emerges from this with any sympathy from the audience. I suppose this is a tribute to the acting, but it doesn't necessarily make for enjoyable viewing. Equally powerful is the way brutal scenes were portrayed completely off-camera.

Much has been credited to the cinematography and the beauty of the film. Let's face it, the camerawork was as grey, drab and almost grainy as the big brother society it portrayed. While artistically clever in guiding the tone of the film, I'm hard-pressed to label this 'beautiful'.

Technically 4,3,2 may well be a masterpiece. Unfortunately this isn't my idea of viewing enjoyment.

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