Early on it’s clear “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” wants whoever is watching to feel as close to the characters as possible. Instead of opting to use the typical style of camera work, the film’s writer and director Cristian Mungiu opts to use the hand held approach. Accompanying this technique with a lack of musical score aides in bringing the viewer into the movie and offers no separation. No longer are the events happening to other people, but they are happening to the viewer.

With the viewer as the third wheel, the friendship between the two main characters Otilia and Gabriela is expressed as being an impenetrable bond. The two roommates are shown doing their daily routine while carrying on normal conversations which initially seems to have no purpose. But along with the other techniques the film is using, it helps to build an equally impenetrable bond between them and the viewer.

Through the strategic use of conversations and character actions, it comes out that Gabriela, played by Laura Vasiliu, is pregnant. Taking place in a Communist run 1987 Romania, the law forbids Gabriela to have a child outside of wedlock, yet at the same time outlaws abortions. Otilia, played by Anamaria Marinca, is eager to help out and used her street smarts to arrange for a black market abortion for her best friend.

Despite the act being illegal, the two are under the impression that the operation should be over and done with quickly. But the movie, taking place for the most part in real time, milks the anticipation for a swift procedure and delivers a crushing blow when it becomes blatantly obvious the two friends are in over their heads and won’t be getting what they bargained for.

The movie isn’t so much about the abortion as it is about the two female leads’ friendship. Overall, some could argue the film is delivering the message that promiscuity is bad and these are the consequences. But with the great lengths the director goes to in order to make the two female leads appealing, it would appear the film’s goal is to show the value of friendship.

This is most apparent in the scenes where their friendship is threatened by the increasing stress their predicament presents them with. Despite the intensity of the graphic abortion procedure scenes, the most trying parts of the movie are those in which the two verbally assault each other as the pressure mounts with every passing minute. At times it becomes hard to distinguish who is actually hurt more by the words; the viewer or the people actually saying them.

“4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” has absolutely nothing wrong with it. The acting is first rate, the story is superb and the film overall is constructed extremely well. In a lot of ways a two-hour movie about two women and an abortion would not be interesting. But the simple plot is given so much more to work with in terms of what makes a movie good and as an audience we truly benefit.

– Scott Hansen