My Ten Favourite Films Of 2008: 1: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Hooray for Romanian miserabalism. Really, I don’t think I saw a more depressing film in 2008 that 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. And I don’t think I saw a film that affected me more, possibly in the last decade. Don’t want to spoil any eventual decade list that I might do in 2015, but expect to see this in the area. Because even now, thinking about it, so much of the feel of the film comes back, specific events too, but the overarching sense of dread. Because while 4 Months. 3 Weeks and 2 Days is a historically set film about getting an illicit abortion in Ceauşescu’s 1980′s Romania, it is also a visceral horror movie and a nailbiting thriller. And for such a specific setting there are aspects which are easily universalised.
The plot is simple, two friends, one gets pregnant. The passive pregnant one, Gabita needs an abortion, which was illegal then in Romania. Otilla, her more assertive friend pretty much does everything to procure one for her. more »
Pete Baran in Do You See /FT • 1 Comment