4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days
The first word that popped into my head when thinking of an adjective to describe the 2007 Cannes Golden Palm winner 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days was the word painful. I know this may sound unfair, considering the beautiful filmmaking and masterful storytelling involved, but the reality is that the experience is truly a traumatic, albeit rewarding, one.
The film tells of the story of Otilia and Gabita, two university friends during the last years of communist Romania. Trouble brews when Gabita becomes pregnant and Otilia helps out with the arrangements in seeking an abortion, an act considered illegal during that time.
The actual procedure is shot in an almost documentary perspective, making viewers cringe upon sight. In fact, at several times in the movie, I had to look away. But there was no indication on my part of a desire to completely stop the film as the movie was just that engaging.
I thought that the trauma would stop by the middle of the picture, upon the completion of the operation. But alas, I was mistaken. While not as visually jarring, the succeeding acts that play out with Otilia’s own struggles within herself was equally poignant.
Director Cristian Mungiu’s use of long tracking shots and handheld still sequences made well for enhancing the movie’s dramatic effect. As a viewer, the shots were made so much so like they were coming from your perspective, and it would appear you were a central character to their story as well.
To end, I love, love, love 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days, but given the chance, would probably never want to watch it again. With the images permanently burned on to memory, I know I’m probably not up for the same emotional ordeal again.
Definitely an awesome film, and I’m happy I got to see it on the big screen (and not my itty bitty laptop screen — I don’t have a TV).
I love a lot of movies, but would only want to watch a handful of them again. Some (like In The Mood For Love or Pulp Fiction) I could watch a million times over. But not all great films lend themselves to a second viewing.
wysgal,
I actually couldn’t imagine myself watching it in the big screen. I was watching it in my 14″ laptop, and actually resized the window to about 1/6 of the screen. Small enough to see and understand the movie, but not to big to be affected so much.
Another film I remember loving so much but not wanting to watch again is Grave of the Fireflies. Amazing how one piece of animation can be so emotionally powerful.