Watch
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
A drama set in Bucharest during the "golden" years of Communism, about the horrors of the Securitate, and the brutality and absurdness of its methods used. (imdb)
Your probable score
?

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

2007
Drama
1h 53m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 71.08% from 2586 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(2586)
Compact view
Compact view
Rated 05 Jul 2009
64
21st
Why so many people love this movie, I'll never understand. To me this is just an exploitation film (and I do use the term loosely) that plays on the sensitivities of mostly foreign movie 'connoisseurs' that think sordid, bleak stories set in unfamiliar, but 'harshly realistic' locations is somehow synonymous with great cinematography. It's not 'realism' and it's not great, it's just giving your audience what they expect and want to see. I ain't jumping on this bandwagon.
Rated 25 Jul 2008
61
30th
With the hyperrealisme-genre it's sometimes possible that the photography isn't in balance with the plot/story. And 4/3/2 is also a victim om that fault. The photography is genuine, a punch in the face of communist rumania and just beautiful in every detail. But the plot is too small and too thin to fill an entire 113min. Some scenes are, even for this genre, too long. After a while you get the message of streching a scene just a bit longer as usual. In my opinion not a worthy Cannes laureate
Rated 04 Feb 2008
82
88th
Intense and uncompromising. Harsh realism without any type of sugarcoating. The subject matter is unsettling to start with, and the way its so blunt with it just makes it harder to stomach. Theres no music to set a mood, no quick camera cuts, the tension is derived completely from the situation, the dialogue and the acting. In fact, the camera keeps the same shots for a long time throughout the movie. Not exactly fun to watch but impossible to take your eyes off of.
Rated 26 Dec 2009
9
94th
It's all in the details. It's all in the meticulously framed long takes - the tableau style - that really show the pain, uncertainty and despondency of the hopelessly absurd, the downright impossible situation that these two women, as well as the society as a whole, find themselves in. At once artfully poetic and emotionally raw.
Rated 01 Sep 2009
95
98th
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is horrific, nerve-wracking, harrowing, but beautifully resists the temptation to cross over to sensationalistic or gratuitously tragic. It raises a myriad of difficult moral, social and political questions, but never pretends to solve them. Its power lies in the script's positively exceptional naturalism. It never once tries to ethically "guide" you out of the awful predicament it portrays, not even a nudge. It just leaves you drained and outraged.
Rated 18 Jul 2010
90
96th
Bleak, slow-paced and dealing with illegal abortions, this could easily have been yet another "I can't believe how horrible (and brown) life was behind the iron curtain" movie, but it is so well written, directed and acted that the human drama remains in the center and stays both relevant, moving and particularly gripping as the heroine proves, that she is the best friend in the world...
Rated 05 Aug 2009
9
98th
A film as oppressive as the society it condemns. Deeply upsetting but never manipulative or overwrought. The horrific situation is presented realistically; it doesn't preach and it never simplifies. Instead, it opts to analyze its complex themes with subtlety and intelligence. Adding to the film's power are some outstanding, naturalistic performances and a number of unbearably distressing tracking shots and long takes. It's amazing. Probably the greatest film of the decade.
Rated 21 Feb 2009
14
75th
Christ, what an unremittingly, relentlessly bleak experience. A story that really needs to be told---Ceausescu's ultra-natalist policies were an abomination---and a story well told, but not one I can imagine wanting to sit through again. It's every bit as agonizing as I'm sure it was designed to be.
Rated 12 Jul 2008
90
85th
Second time watching this, and it's damned good. The dinner scene still stands out as the best part of the film. The boyfriend's parents and their friends are talking about how tough it was in the old days, and segue seamlessly into talking about how much milk they put in their mashed potatoes. It's so good, and it makes me want to scream. There's something resonant there about the well-to-do middle class just dismissing real poverty and real systemic squalor by exclaiming "kids these days!"
Rated 16 Feb 2010
89
89th
Shot with lengthy, unflinching camera shots, watching this made me feel as if I was witnessing the events directly, rather than through a movie. And that's exactly what makes it so effective: we are seeing an event that seems so un-fabricated (due also in part to the great acting) that it conjures deep feelings with very little provocation. The events in this film happen ALL THE TIME in this world, but sometimes it takes actually seeing them for them to seem as sickening as they should.
Rated 18 Dec 2009
69
58th
Hmm... not as good as I had hoped. It's good to learn about the treatment of women in Eastern Europe, but the movie doesn't 'flow'. It seems too slow and too empty.
Rated 06 Jul 2010
78
75th
And now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go kill myself.
Rated 03 Jul 2009
85
84th
An extremely tense story. The film is really gripping, with a sense of dread around every corner, helped by the minimalist style. The cinematography is mostly handheld, documentary-style, and there's no music whatsoever, all of which puts you right in the moment with the feeling the anything can happen, and the worst probably will. Stark and unsettling.
Rated 09 Jan 2014
53
62nd
This reminds me of that episode of Full House when Danny wont let Stephanie pierce her ears, so she has to go to Kimmy in secret, and Kimmy demands sex from Stephanie and D.J. as payment.
Rated 11 Oct 2008
3
61st
Difficult film to watch. I guess it about sums up everything wrong with Romania during this period.
Rated 31 Oct 2008
85
80th
Very very emotional and hard to watch.
Rated 27 Dec 2016
75
89th
filmin amacından yıllardır emin değilim. despot iktidarları eleştirmekse amaç evet ama sosyalizm barbarlık demek ise no
Rated 08 Jul 2012
1
12th
Popped my Romanian film cherry today, I've had better. The acting is so staged and stilted it totally takes you out of the film. We get it, you went to acting school. Also, I thought the abortionists motivations for doing the abortion was a wild stretch. A possible 10 years in prison to bang a stranger? lol. But it has a touchy subject and is about communism and it shows a dead fetus so you have to say you like it despite it being a boring pretentious piece of shit. HORRIBLE ending
Rated 29 Nov 2012
90
80th
A relentlessly bleak film of bleakness. You'll have just about as much fun shooting yourself in the foot. That being said, it is spectacularly filmed and does a fascinating job of depicting realism. Though it will make you feel cold and empty inside (not a complaint) Cristian Mungiu respectfully knows how to make its haunting moments less unbearable without losing effect. Unforgettable and amazing, but I probably will never watch it again.
Rated 27 Apr 2012
85
84th
It's one thing to read about the history of the abominable Ceausescu era of Romania; it's another thing to have those horrors manifested in a powerful work of cinéma vérité. As small as its story is, the setting is fully realized in every facet, from the harrowing oppression by bureaucracy to class struggle; everything adds up to a sum of pure desperation. Even with its impressive master shots, the flow is never halted with aims for awe; as trite as I feel it is to say, this film feels real.
Rated 18 May 2016
85
89th
women are left to fend for themselves. their acts of self-preservation must not be seen. the frontier now is the frontier of mankind itself, which is an exclusively interior one
Rated 05 Jun 2018
76
87th
Extremely well acted and quite disturbing. The acting was great and the dialogue was very naturalistic without seeming to be pretentious. I honestly felt bad for Otilia especially given how uncaring and unthankful Gabita was about the whole thing.
Rated 24 Apr 2012
76
92nd
A bleak, unadorned drama, which is exactly what the story needed.
Rated 08 Sep 2008
90
88th
Excellent use of the camera throughout. Mingiu's refusal to cut away at various points, instead either following or keeping the camera focused on his principles, really serves to build the tension and dread effectively. We cannot help but feel what a terrible situation these girls find themselves in.
Rated 19 Oct 2007
100
99th
19 Ekim 07 - Halam ile Filmekimi07 saat: 21:30 & 22 mart 08'deyiz ve hala arada bir kafam filme gidiyor, depresiflesiyorum.kesinlikle mukemmel bir film.
Rated 04 Feb 2008
50
33rd
A personal-yet-universal and even lurid story rendered, quite honestly, rather tedious by the time- and money-saving long takes that are the curse of small movies
Rated 22 Dec 2009
84
72nd
Really, really tense and unnerving. Cheery stuff.
Rated 16 Jun 2011
23
29th
this is not about communism or real socialism in Romania. It's about abortion, nothing more!
Rated 17 Jan 2012
75
81st
It was a subtle yet quite powerful film. The film used lots of long shots, spanning several minutes. Luckily, the actors and the script were up to this challenge. I thought it was really good overall. It had a really hyper-real feel to it, which I liked a lot. Recommended.
Rated 06 May 2012
90
83rd
)-:
Rated 20 Jan 2013
35
16th
you can tell a story realistically but as long as the acts and decisions of your characters are unnecessarily unreasonable, it doesn't seem "real"
Rated 30 Jan 2008
90
95th
Uber.
Rated 12 Jul 2008
82
69th
Naast de serieusheid geeft deze film ook een heel grappig beeld van het alledaagse leven in communistisch Roemenie.
Rated 08 Feb 2011
70
72nd
Though I don't always like extremely slow rhythms, I have to recognize that in this particular case I loved it, and more than that, I found it necessary. It helps, with some other aspects of the movie to make me feel like a accomplice to a morally non-existing crime. And I didn't feel guilty, but of course I felt scared, worried and alone.
Rated 11 Mar 2008
89
92nd
It starts off well but doesn't really come into its own until about 40 minutes in. From there on the entire film is a tense harrowing experience though it never pushes it too far. The film manages to expose a lot of uncomfortable subjects yet does so subtly, relying on the viewer making connections rather than on shock value. The performances, as well as the direction, are understated but very effective.
Rated 04 Apr 2008
24
8th
it's almost a documentary, but it's not, it just shows you an awful phenomenon, but that's it, no added value. Very hard to identify with the characters since they are all, well, pretty annoying. The whole east-europe mentality is very hard to connect to. It may be important to know about what happened in Romania in the 80s, but as a movie, not good.
Rated 24 Dec 2013
78
44th
very disturbing. the cinematography evoked the mood of the film extremely well. the film's minimalist approach spoke volumes about its setting. the film itself was confusing at first, but engaging, because the audience had to work to decipher the film's subtleties. i would have liked to know more about the relationship of the two friends, just so that the protagonist's efforts would feel more justified, but i guess leaving it ambiguous has it's own merits.
Rated 29 Jan 2008
56
15th
Excellent filmmaking, highlighted by superb acting, but boy, I didn't need to see that...!
Rated 23 Jul 2010
95
79th
So quiet, so unnasuming. So brilliant. Some scenes are held in one take for 10 minutes, with the characters moving around the frame, sometimes even off-camera. This is a film that makes you think, and it's absorbing. Yet, nothing really happens. And that's the beauty of it.
Rated 15 Jul 2013
95
95th
A difficult drama that really captures its time and place, as two girls endure the process that must be taken to get an illegal abortion in '80s communist Romania. Every shot seems very carefully selected, and it features some extremely dark and uncomfortable moments. One of the best from a very good year in cinema.
Rated 04 Jul 2009
65
32nd
Incredibly visceral and real, I couldn't take my eyes of the screen. What stops this from being one of my absolute favourites is the extremely tedious and overblown dinner scene which, far from offering any progression in the main narrative, was seemingly only included to fill time.
Rated 23 Nov 2013
85
84th
I have to disagree with the blurb saying this movie is about 'brutal Securitate methods'. The Securitate does not 'feature' in the movie. It's about two students girls having to live in a corrupt and policed society, specifically what they have to go through to arrange an abortion for one of them. It paints a grim picture of human nature and city life under the communist regime.
Rated 20 Nov 2012
100
95th
Ankara Hukuk Fakultesinde Universitenin Kadin Kollektif Kollariyla birlikte izledigim ve ortamdaki tek erkek olmam hasebiyle kendimi sanki filmdeki adamlar benmisim gibi bakacaklar zannettigim guzel harika tarz bir filmdi.
Rated 31 Dec 2014
35
23rd
Everyone loves ceauÅŸescu except cristian mungiu
Rated 02 Sep 2010
84
77th
Harrowing and ruthless portrayal of social problems in communist Romania.
Rated 10 Feb 2012
85
73rd
It's better not to know anything before you watch the film. But it's pretty brutal.
Rated 01 Mar 2008
87
78th
Quiet yet brash at the same time; 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days is the intense account of two girls partaking in an abortion in an illegal state. The characters are poised with more realism than most other movies and it makes for an uncomprimising movie that will instill emotion in even the most hard-hearted people. Very gripping and highly recommendable, it's no surprise it won the Palm d'Or at the Cannes festival last year.
Rated 20 Feb 2016
13
69th
Star Rating: ★★★1/2
Rated 11 May 2008
91
95th
Director of the movie is a real expert, excellent work.
Rated 08 Feb 2012
70
65th
When I finished enjoying what dystopian abyss socialism is, two thoughts remained with me: It's a good thing, considering the general I. Q. level of the human race, that some people don't have babies. Thought number two: Certain scenes were so monotonous, that I feared I had gotten it all wrong, and the title was the actual duration.
Rated 03 Sep 2008
52
17th
Perhaps contradictorily, I feel that this is an IMPORTANT movie but not necessarily a GOOD movie. The treatment of women in the former Soviet Bloc should not be forgotten, but I would have preferred a documentary on the subject. For more than the first 20 minutes, it's not clear what the protagonists are arranging; until the first use of the word "abortion" it plays like A Day in the Life of a Completely Unremarkable Girl.
Rated 05 Aug 2016
99
97th
This movie made me feel lucky that I only lived for 5 years in communism. But the story of Otilia was lived by so many women including my mom and it's simply heart-breaking. The tension is expertly delivered. I could hardly breathe through most of the movie.
Rated 21 Jun 2010
98
78th
This one took me by surprise.
Rated 10 Oct 2010
80
76th
shockingly realistic
Rated 19 Nov 2018
81
75th
This is a gut-wrenching, spine-chilling story. Close to my 40s, I'm not keen on this kind of bleak stuff anymore. That said, the dramatic twists and turns taken in this movie are excellent. Mr. Bebe is such a nuanced villain. Even the poster is brilliant; how much evil can you fit in such an innocent setting? A lot. The movie brought out very strong emotions from me; for example, I deeply hated Gabrieala character. Stupidity and being clueless can be much worse than intentional malevolence.
Rated 24 Sep 2009
77
61st
Good stuff, I had no idea going in to it what it was about. And the first 20-30mins didn't really give it away for me. As soon as the word "termination" was mentioned the film changed in to an intense, nerve-wracking look at the way an abortion was handled in 80's Romania. Terrifying but a great film.
Rated 10 May 2010
85
92nd
Haunting, cold and uncomfortable. The realistic approach and long takes make some scenes difficult to watch, even though the worst moments happen offscreen and the harshest implications are left to the viewer. Not something you watch for a good ol' time, that's for sure.
Rated 06 Jun 2012
72
54th
kürtaj, otel odasi, doktor, oda arkadasi, aileyle tanisma yemegi, cenin, düsük yapmak
Rated 25 Oct 2012
80
84th
* Casting, Acting : 8 * Script : 8 * Directing, Aura : 10 * Ease of Viewing : 6 * Naked Eye : 8
Rated 03 Feb 2014
76
87th
Carefully constructed in terms of camerawork, characterisation, narrative, and also audience. Certainly conveys the frustration and suffering that results from bad laws in oppressive societies.
Rated 30 Aug 2016
85
84th
Expertly crafted depressing foreign film that I probably never watch ever again.
Rated 24 Jul 2008
92
93rd
Powerful, thrilling and horrifying. Extremely believable...maybe too much!
Rated 11 Sep 2011
80
85th
Mungiu's apparent bleakness, through long shots and a crude cinematography, could actually be compared to some sort of contained rage, which is never released on the spectator. The film seems brutally real.
Rated 20 Jun 2010
72
39th
i appreciate that it is absolutely realistic movie describing communist Romania in 80s. but i can not like too much movies which are so depressive. despite that time at that location was really so depressive...
Rated 25 May 2009
70
57th
Oppressive.
Rated 09 Sep 2008
80
83rd
Gritty and powerful look at life in 1980's Romania. Director Mungiu has created an realistic atmosphere without shaky close-ups or fast cuts.
Rated 28 Oct 2011
30
78th
"4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is an allegory that speaks to the struggles of freedom fighters gripped by the terror tactics of a political machine." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 07 Feb 2009
45
13th
Cliché after cliché and a story that stops somewhere in the middle of the movie.
Rated 28 Jul 2009
88
85th
Absolutely stunning, though absolutely excrutiating to watch. The telephone scene at the dinner party is the stuff dreams (or nightmares) are made of.
Rated 30 Jul 2011
95
94th
This is such a grim movie. Anamaria Marinca, sitting awkwardly at the birthday party of her immature boyfriend while wondering about the fate of her roommate, is one of many scenes which will be on my mind for a long time. Everything is bartered, and when one character bemoans her lack of skill in "bribing," one starts to wonder how she has survived to this point in her life. The answer: she really hasn't. "Tales from the Golden Age" indeed.
Rated 23 Mar 2009
96
95th
Harrowing. Disturbing. Excellent portrayal about abortion that stays away from being too political. Marinca gives one of the most heartwrenching performances to ever be caught on camera. Absolutely perfect.
Rated 04 Nov 2011
25
0th
Bana sıkıcı geldi.
Rated 11 Nov 2013
76
44th
Well, the movie held my attention throughout its length. It is one of those movies that does not tend to show a hell lot and confines itself to the main plot with an admirable result. Nothing in the movie feels over the top. It was a good watch...
Rated 21 Oct 2007
93
96th
wow
Rated 21 Jan 2009
50
8th
I suppose this could be seen as an interesting film but I found it out and out boring with no real suspense or meaning.
Rated 19 Nov 2011
89
90th
Once again, a non-horror film proves to be way more horrifying and intense than the usual horror film. I had a really uneasy feeling throughout certain sections of this film, mainly in my lower region. The only big flaw in this film is that they shouldn't have shown it -- it just seemed inappropriate and it didn't look as gross or heart-stopping as they do (it looked like a piece of sweet and sour pork and it just made me hungry).
Rated 26 Nov 2017
82
91st
26.11.17
Rated 10 Jan 2011
1
0th
When a Romanian film is as obtuse as 4,3,2, it feels like a countdown to cinema's termination.
Rated 06 Feb 2008
85
94th
Excellent arthouse realism.
Rated 13 Apr 2009
4
71st
"Shot in long takes, the film features a gut-wrenching performance by Marinca as the selfless friend who somehow keeps a lid on her battered spirit. Winner of this year's Palme d'Or at Cannes, 4 Months is a harrowing tale that will stay with you."
Rated 09 Sep 2008
81
73rd
Ruthless but subtle with great acting performances. Makes me feel good not to have lived in that time and place.
Rated 25 Mar 2008
85
63rd
A movie about 2 girls and illegal abortion in Romenia. Scenarios are so realistic with poverty and black market around.
Rated 12 Dec 2016
75
65th
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days's direction is bleak and uncompromising. Lots of long shots with little frame movement that make real-time anxiety palpable. Yet there is something distant about it all that holds its statement back. After two hours we have almost no understanding of these women as people, and thus the movie serves best as a snapshot of a past society rather than making that suffering feel personal and still relevant. Too much time spent on repulsion and pity. Not enough connecting.
Rated 30 May 2009
100
97th
Absolutely stunning. I love a movie that knows how to pause and take its time.
Rated 30 Dec 2009
93
98th
A deep and touching time travel to 80's Communist system. It's also a brutal story how lonely and beaten women are with unwanted pregnancy. The sound track has been build carefully as was the chilling camera work. Director laid wisely on strong acting skills with skillful actors and main leads. More you know about the Communist mentality more you get from this film. Has the guilt of women changed much in modern times?
Rated 09 Sep 2013
95
89th
Exhilarating and unforgiving. Tied my stomach in knots.
Rated 11 Sep 2016
55
25th
daha once kiliseli bir filmini yarim birakmistim yonetmenin. bu da cok yavan geldi. dram var gecirebildigi his cok az
Rated 06 Mar 2022
82
73rd
kürtaj meselesi... arkadaş için yapılan fedakarlık ve ilişkiler üzerine...
Rated 17 Nov 2010
6
44th
A thought provoking film with a quite distinctive filming style- Long takes and static framing. A film about Romania, about abortion but also about friendship. Terribly bleak.
Rated 19 Oct 2012
84
78th
Thoughtful and compassionate
Rated 21 Dec 2014
83
79th
2014-12-21
Rated 29 Jun 2016
85
75th
babuş şarkısı harika ya.te aud mereu angele similea
Rated 22 Jan 2009
65
27th
No characters worth empathizing with, and that greatly hurts any impact it wanted to have. Still, great camerawork and good performances elevate it to decent.
Rated 05 Mar 2008
80
62nd
A totally no bullshit film. Depressing as hell. Makes me grateful for living in a time and area with access (so far) to choices regarding my body.
Rated 30 Nov 2012
90
92nd
A beautiful and formally compelling work of art.
Rated 16 Nov 2019
100
60th
film hakkında özet bilgi dahi okumadan izlemeye başladım. Eğer bilseydim muhtemelen bu harika filmi izleyememiş olacaktım. Anlatım tarzında hiç duraksama hissetmedim ve sıkılmadım. Çok çarpıcı bir konu ancak bu kadar başarılı anlatılabilirdi.
Rated 22 Jan 2009
72
51st
Very bleak, not for the faint of heart. The grim reality of illegal abortion during Romania's communist years. A powerful film but be prepared to have some bad dreams after seeing this.
Rated 11 Sep 2008
90
89th
A gripping and breathtaking plunge. Heartstopping look at two women who attempt to get an illegal abortion. Unflinching in its details, this is a film everyone should see and got robbed at the Oscars, not even being nominated for best foreign film.
Rated 26 Feb 2017
4
77th
Mina förväntningar var väldigt höga, det sker inte ofta att en film på biorepertoiren har en femma som rekommenderat värde. Mycket är också bra. Jag reste lite i östeuropa före murens fall och här känner man igen mycket: En väldig fixering vid att "fixa" och byta varor, smutsiga och mörka bostadsområden, nedslitna kommunikationsmedel, personal på hotell och restauranger som inte var det minsta engagerade i sitt jobb etc ... Och en allmän känsla av tristess och klaustrofobi. Dä
Rated 09 Aug 2009
88
89th
Good movie although i wish there was more to the plot. Throughout this movie i felt that they could have added more to make it better, although at some points i felt that the simplicity of the plot made the movie better.

Collections

(89)
Compact view
Showing 1 - 24 of 89 results

Similar Titles

Loading ...

Statistics

Loading ...