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In just his second feature film, Romanian director Cristian Mungiu wasn't shy about tackling a challenge.
While the idea and process of the abortion itself is the driving force of the movie, as cliche as it may sound, it’s not what the movie is really ‘about’.

Set in 1987 at the tail end of the Ceausescu dictatorship in Romania, “4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days” concerns a young woman seeking an abortion in an authoritarian state that has all but outlawed the procedure. As if the basic subject wasn't thorny enough, writer/director Mungiu also chose to make the young woman rather difficult to like, or at least difficult to fully sympathize with. Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) is passive, forgetful, flighty, and relies almost entirely on her friend Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) to negotiate all of the details of a complex (and illegal) deal. Safe in the security of being the “unreliable one” in the relationship, Gabi exploits Otilia's courage and conscientiousness, with harrowing repercussions for both of them.

Director: Cristian Mungiu
Cast: Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov, Alexandru Potocean, Luminita Gheorghiu
Country: Romania, Belgium
Genre: Drama

BD50, 2xDVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:53:18 | 44.9 Gb + 12.3 Gb + 3% rec
Language: Romanian
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• Jay Weissberg - in this video interview, critic Jay Weissberg discuses the socio-political environment in which the Romanian New Wave emerged, some of the key films from the directors that are associated with it, Cristian Mungiu's international success and its importance for the popularization of contemporary Romanian cinema, the tone and stylistic appearance of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, etc. The interview was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2016. In English, not subtitled. (25 min, 1080p).

• Cristian Mungiu - in this video interview, director Cristian Mungiu discusses the genesis of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and some of the key characteristics of the social reality that is preserved in it. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2016. (38 min, 1080p).

• Cannes Conference - presented here is a filmed version of the press conference that was held at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, where 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days won the prestigious Palme d'Or Award. The panel features director Cristian Mungiu, cinematographer Oleg Mutu, and actors Laura Vasilu, Vlad Ivanov, and Alexandru Potocean. In French, English, and Romanian, with optional English subtitles where necessary. (45 min, 1080p).

• The Romanian Tour - presented here is a short archival featurette in which Romanian audience members describe their feelings and emotions after viewing 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. The featurette was produced in 2007. In Romanian and German, with optional English subtitles. (16 min, 1080i).

• Alternate and Deleted Scenes - in Romanian, with optional English subtitles. (14 min, 1080i).

• Trailer - original U.S. trailer for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days produced by IFC Films. In Romanian and English text, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (2 min, 1080p).