In the last days of communism in Romania, Gabita (Laura Vasiliu), a young college student, wants to end her unplanned pregnancy. With the help of her best friend, fellow student Otilia (Anamaria Marinca), she seeks an abortion, illegal under the oppressive Ceaucescu regime. Director Cristian Mungiu's searing portrait of life under dictatorship received a slew of film festival awards as well as a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film from the Golden Globes. 113 minutes.
Intense.
By now, I'm sure most anyone reading this has heard about the lack of added sound on this film (Palme d'Or winner at the 2007 Cannes festival) -- no music, no effects, just dialogue and any additional sound the mics picked up. It makes for an intense experience, and one without the usual breaks to remind you that you're just a viewer, watching a film. It's bleak and hard and completely unsentimental. The hard work just of living, let alone the work to obtain an abortion (punishable as murder, if the pregnancy has progressed to 4 months) isn't a romantic sort of struggle, it's just a struggle.
No comments:
Post a Comment