...engaging and discerning culture, as a way of life...

March 30, 2008

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days - 7

It took some time but I was finally able to see this much anticipated film. While 2007 seems to be the year for unexpected pregnancy films, this film takes the audience on a much more heart wrenching ride than the many others that seem to work out despite the challenges. This film is Romanian and is set in the 80's when abortion there was illegal and severely punished. The story follows two friends who live together in a crowded apartment building. When scared and naive Gabriela reveals that she is pregnant, Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) arranges for the abortion. The film shows the dedication and sacrifice that friendship involves and the difficult choices that begin to define what friendship and being in a relationship mean. The film both shows the harsh reality of the situation, as well as showing Otilia's existential questioning of what her life means and where it is headed. This is probably the one film about unwanted pregnancy this year that takes it deadly serious.

2 comments:

bryan said...

Greg,

I am curious to know how the film informed your view/stance on abortion, or vice versa, how your view/stance on abortion informed your opinion of the film. Was there any ethical tension in what the film was saying about abortion given your Christian worldview?

~greg said...

I think the film confronts the viewer with taking an ethical stance. That is it shows a stark contrast between the abstraction of abortion when we talk about it and especially when we "debate" it, as oppose to the reality of what is involved emotionally and relationally when the act has taken place. For those that think abortion is sterile and innocuous...this film shows that it is messy- and not just physically.