The times have changed in the last twenty or so years. Religious belief no longer has much credence when addressing the moral issues that plague the world of today. Society is evolving every year, and with that has come some amazing progress in women’s rights. I know there are many out there that would hold their bibles close to their hearts and lambaste those who choose to go against the word of the “good lord.” One moral question that becomes more and more relevant in these times is the question of whether abortion is just. An uncomfortable subject for most, even those who support it, it is important to address the issue. In most western societies, abortion is legal in many areas. Some countries, however, do not have a choice in the matter. Romania was one of these countries.
In the 1980’s, Romania viewed this as a heinous crime, worthy of long-term imprisonment. While the law has changed, the reality of this checkered past has echoed throughout time. One movie, that came from the very country, decided to make a statement on the strict laws against abortion. “4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days” is an independent movie that is looking to bring to light the grim reality of these laws that have driven women to desperation. It is a film with a powerful message that may just turn a few heads in it’s direction. This is Cristian Mungiu’s “4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days.”
Our darkly tale focuses on two young university students living in 1980’s Romania, Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) and Gabita (Laura Vasiliu). Not apparent at first, Gabita has fallen pregnant with a baby she doesn’t want. Feeling distraught and unsure of herself, she asks that Otilia handle the issue of organizing an illegal abortion. Otilia approaches her boyfriend for money, without telling him the truth, so that she can book a hotel and meet their back-alley abortionist. She eventually meets with a man named Bebe (Vlad Ivanov). Here, everything starts to go awry. Bebe was insistent on meeting Gabita, not trusting Otilia and the hotel that they had organized is no longer available. Having to settle for a more expensive hotel, the girls are left with much less money to pay Bebe. Truths begin to unravel as Gabita reveals that she is much further along in her pregnancy than she had said. With less money and a desperate plea to have the baby removed on the day, Bebe agrees to do the process, provided the girls do him a service. Otilia is left with her morals swaying back and forth in her mind as she finds herself teetering on the edge of self-destruction.
The film’s title is, naturally, a reference to how far along Gabita is in her pregnancy. Those who are aware would understand the difficulty this would provide a natural abortion. It plays into the danger that runs throughout the themes of the movie. Despite how slow the pacing is, there is a constant sense of fear as everything unfolds. You are gripped from the moment that you figure out what is going on. The movie doesn’t flat out say what the characters are plotting until much later in the film. Going in without the knowledge can create a sense of mystery. In many ways, this is a thriller. It is not a conventional thriller, nothing overtly exciting happens, but it does build on the suspense of not knowing if the movie will follow through on it’s premise.
Gabita constantly lies to everyone around her so that she can successfully receive the abortion she so desperately craves. The director’s intention seems clear enough, she’s just a kid that can’t look after herself, let alone a child. Each little white lie creates a problem for the other two characters to overcome. You become just as frustrated at her actions as they do, but there is also a level of understanding. The film does an excellent job at making you sympathize with Gabita. Sure, she’s immature, but you can understand the pressure of her choice. That is what it all boils down to; the weight of making such a morally complex decision in the hands of uncertainty.
Whilst one might go into this film expecting the terrified teenager to be our main lead, it is Otilia who is left to be our protagonist. Otilia doesn’t have to take this responsibility. There are many instances in which she is thrown into a dangerous situation that could land her in prison, but she persists because she genuinely cares for Gabita. Whether you agree with the social politics of the bleak reality that is presented, you are forced to feel the same feelings that any third-party involved in an unwanted pregnancy experiences. Otilia has never experienced the same thing that Gabita is, but she’s willing to stand by her friend through thick and thin. You understand their relationship beyond any doubt.
Through the course of the movie, Otilia’s mental state is beaten down. Fate is trying to fight against her as she has to jump through hoops to help her friend. When most desperate, she chooses to take disgusting risks to ensure that the abortion goes through, even giving into Bebe’s demands. After the process takes place, and how unsure she is that they were successful, she is left to stew on their actions. There is an instance where Otilia leaves Gabita alone and spends the evening with her boyfriend’s family. Given the lengths she had to go to, the dark and grizzly reality of what she has done weighs down on her mind as she struggles to keep it together. There is an unexpected genius in how it makes the audience sympathize with Gabita’s character by placing it’s focus on Otilia. It’s not our responsibility, but we want to ensure that she is safe during the process.
As much as the film is advertised as an abortion film, the actual abortion is not the focus. The film has a stark message about normalizing the process. Setting it in the 1980’s is a good way of showing the lack of progress that society has today. One would not know it’s a period piece without prior knowledge. I, myself, didn’t realize it was so until I looked up the film afterwards. The film isn’t trying to be disingenuous but, rather, it’s trying to show how little has changed. What should be so simple, is the greatest hurdle that both of these woman have to go through. The sheer ferocity of the acts they have to commit is haunting.
The film creates a post-apocalyptic atmosphere that veils itself over the story. The world is presented as bleak and baron, with a grey filter over every scene. Even in a joyous family gathering, the lighting is dim and dead-looking. The cinematography is naturalistic and shots go on for what feels like an eternity. There are very few cuts, making it feel far more natural. Each shot lingers on a single emotion as you watch the characters struggle with every little action they perform. The family gathering scene in particular is nothing short of brilliant. An unedited long shot where Otilia is left in a zombie-like state as she ponders everything leading up to that moment, the questioning of her actions through subtle facial movements as we are made to feel just as uncomfortable. Pure brilliance.
This movie is far more relevant now than when it was first released. We’re in a age of constant progression, where acts like abortion are far more normalized. In the past, I have often questioned the morality of abortion. To me, it’s not something that can be so easily condemned. Above all, it’s the woman who makes that choice. This movie does a great job at making you, at least, understand the struggle that an unwanted pregnancy can cause. It’s easy to immediately villainize someone for not sharing your beliefs, but there must always be some room for open thinking. The final scenes of the movie illustrate the desperation these women go through. The danger of getting caught as Otilia finds a way to do what she needs to as discreetly as possible is uncomfortable, and that’s the point. If at any point within this film that you feel disturbed by the actions taken, then you feel the exact same desperation for normality that the women have to endure. It’s an excellent display of what is wrong with making abortion illegal. It’s a slow burner, but if you ever feel morally conflicted on this matter, then I implore you to check this out.
Side note: After watching Nymphomanic, I am always cautious about abortion scenes. That alone made me terrified.
Written review by C. Johnson.