4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

aka: 4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile
Romania 2007, 113 minutes
Dir. Cristian Mungiu
In Romanian with English subtitles
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Drama

Topics: Period 1980s.

Feat. Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu

Aroview: Two women risk seeking an illegal abortion under Ceausescu rule in this staggering, high tension Cannes-winner from Romania.

Reminiscent of the intrusive, handheld style of recent grim fare – KEANE, RED ROAD, and films by the Dardennes especially – dir. Puiu funnels the sprawling camera work of THE DEATH OF MR. LAZARESCU into a knife-edge feature length, capturing the rush of determination and ever-present danger of his protagonists’ brave ambition. Oscillating between horror, thriller, and social critque, the film’s raw immediacy and perilous tone will seize those prepared to engage with its grave subject matter in a vice-like grip.

Cannes - Palm D’Or