DVD of the Week – ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’ – June 17
It was actually released on June 10, but as it’s featured in my MSN column this week, I’m happy to celebrate Cristian Mungiu’s beautiful and harrowing 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days as the DVD of the week. There’s no need to add to what I’ve already written on the film – both on this site and in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (I also interviewed the director earlier this year here) – but for those who have still not heard about the film, it’s about a college girl arranging an illegal abortion for her roommate in the last days of the Ceausescu dictatorship in Romania and is a grueling and deeply affecting human drama and a powerful portrait of life in an oppressive society.
Anamaria Marinca is heartbreaking as the young woman who hardens herself to help her friend (Laura Vasiliu) get through a devastating ordeal. Mungiu wields the camera with blunt power and subtle discretion , yet through it all, Mungiu finds strength and perseverance and commitment under the desperation, a small miracle in such circumstances, and a magnificent reward in such an exquisite film.
I review the film in my MSN DVD column here.
UPDATE – 6/17/08: After reviewing the DVD (complete with interviews and documentary) and posting the review, I discovered the disc was pulled from release. For whatever reason, I do not know, but the studio never even bothered to update me on the status. I found out from Michael Atkinson at IFC, via GreenCine Daily.
UPDATE #2 – 6/17/08: After making a few inquiries, I was informed that the disc is being made available exclusively through Borders for a window of time (I was not told how long). Sure enough, a quick search found this page at Borders, proclaiming it as an exclusive. No cover art, however.
UPDATE #3 – 6/18/08: The DVD publicist has informed me that the DVD will be widely available in October. Until then, it is exclusively available through Borders Books, in store and online.
Also new this week is Criterion’s release of Claude Sautet’s directorial debut, the tough, lean, smart crime drama Classe Tous Risques. Read more »
