4 Months - 3 Weeks - 2 Days - Movie Review Example

Film 4: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (Themes)

The film unfolds towards the end of Communist rule in Romania. Even so, the sense of oppression and paranoia is very much palpable in the film. Most of the paranoia and tension emanates from the lead character who was asked to assist her roommate in getting an abortion. After gathering sufficient funds for the abortion, they encounter various challenges, and to make desperate choices along the way. The film is about illegal abortion, and the abortion occurs at a time where the period of communism, although ended, the country is still very much conflicted, especially among its police authorities. The film presents also the bleak theme of poverty which is very much apparent in the film scenes. The long scenes and intimate camera work has made the tension in the film very much heightened. The film actually makes a perfect case for legalized abortion as the events which unfold following the plans for the illegal abortion are very much disastrous. However, this is not the primary theme emerging from this film. There are deeper issues, mostly on fear and oppression, within the government and how such fears are very much deeply ingrained and rooted into the Romanian psyche in the time immediately following the end of communism.

The film however is not overly concerned with politics. However, as the story is slowly proceeding, the scenes include more layers of oppression and its manipulative elements; it also becomes more apparent that the film is actually about the state in general. The opening scenes are in a dorm room, however, this is not known immediately. Otilia wants to buy something and proceeds to leave the apartment and then goes on to buy something from the store, which is actually also a dorm room. She hardly even steps inside the dorm room to make her purchase. As she leaves the room, the camera focuses on her back, and as some point, she appears to be in prison. However, she is actually not.

Still, there are feelings set and created by the scene, and these feelings actually support the entirety of the film. All places where the characters are going, they are monitored and under surveillance. The police state is strong in the film, with the film covering incidents of government abuse, feelings of fear, and guilt. However, the film is also discovering other general themes. In the hotel room as the doctor is mentioning the possible side effects, the tension is very much heightened, so much so that it also creates and heightens fear. The scene is however, done well. The abortionist begins calmly, explaining the situation and repeating the different risks involved for himself and for the women. Gradually, the scene transitions with the situation actually being clearer to the viewer and also the women. The power that the abortionist has actually increases to a fearful degree, until there is a clear realization of desperation involved in the situation. It relates to elements favouring strong government, one which emerges to assist and support power over the people until the latter would give up most anything because of fear. This was the situation basically in Eastern Europe as communism fell.

The concept of oppression is very much apparent and the director is skilled in allowing such fear to trickle into the other relationships in the film. Otilia left the hotel room to go to boyfriend’s house for the latter’s father’s birthday. She is immediately protective and the boyfriend makes her feel guilty about being late, placing himself in an authoritative position over Otilia. The dinner scene and the conversation in the bedroom which followed skilfully incorporate this idea into the story, with some changes in tone and dialogue. The dinner discussions include party delineations of class as well as academic and social superiority. The film is one which strongly relates to choice as well as the suppression and control of freedoms. It is not solely about abortion, but also the right to live and to summon bravery in oneself. It also seeks to cover the huge sacrifice which individuals make as well as the losses which people have suffered from strict government policies and sexist principles. It is also a film which strongly considers the general elements of oppression.

Towards the end, the two women are seen alone, but with a dark shared secret between them. There is a feeling one can sense from Otilia, that she has had to deal with the situation on her own, and that she made the biggest sacrifice and made the most risks. The film closes, but there are palpable elements which very much linger, including sacrifice, the loss of their youth, and the general sense of peace.

The film however also tries to stay neutral towards the main concern on abortion. Abortion in this film is carried out about in the second trimester of the pregnancy, and under Hungarian law is considered murder. Those who view the movie with strong ideals on women’s rights or for the rights of the unborn child can try to use the film to support their cause, but in the process they may not succeed in convincing the viewer to take their side. Abortion may be the underlying element in the film, however, the movie used it as a tool to understand the experience of women. There is no definite conclusion for the film. As the government state in the country is the same from the start to the finish, any feeling of resolution is contrived. The film focuses on Otilia, veering away from too much drama and presenting the viewer with the more intelligent perspectives of women in film. Although Otilia’s qualities are to be admired, to focus on these elements of her character would be considered inadequate, as it highlights character transformations. Nevertheless, highlighting her qualities over and above narrative incidents, the film does cover the component over and above the narrative. The film may also be considered an apology for women. Otilia’s success in carrying out the abortion, using all her qualities, highlights her character and its implications on important qualities which women already possess as strong personalities.