A film playing in Romania under the Ceausescu regime in 1987. Otilia and Gabita are good friends. They study together at the polytechnic and share a room in the student home. Gabita has a problem: she’s four months pregnant or, to be more precise, 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days. She doesn’t want to have the baby but abortion is strictly forbidden in communist Romania, and the penalty for illegal terminations is prison.
Following a friend’s advice, the two girls arrange for the dubious Mr. Bébé to come to a hotel to carry out an illegal abortion. However, Gabita is far past the medically acceptable period for a termination, and under the circumstances the man wants more money for his services. Unable to pay more than the price originally stated, the two girls hurriedly start negotiating and get involved in a deal that will change them once and for all.
A sensitive and forceful drama with which the director, aided by an outstanding cast and an austere screenplay, has created a masterwork.
35mm | Farbe / colour
Cristian Mungiu
Oleg Mutu
Titi Fleancu, Dana Bunescu, Cristian Tarnovetchi
Mihaela Poenaru
Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov, Alex Potocean, Luminita Gheorghiu, Adi Carauleanu
Saga Film
Concorde Filmverleih GmbH
Rosenheimer Str. 143b
81671 München
Germany
Tel: +49.89.450 610 33
Fax: Tel: +49.89.450 610 10
boneberg@concorde-film.de
Cristian Mungiu - born 1968 in Iasi. Studied English literature, then worked as a teacher and as a journalist for print media, radio and television. In 1994 he began to study directing in Bucharest, working as an assistant director at the same time. He co-founded MOBRA-Films in 2003.
Cazul Horia Viorel (1996, short, doc)
Mariana (1997, short)
Mana lui Paulista (1998, short, Cottbus 1999)
Nici o Intimplare (2000, short)
Zapping (2000, short)
Corul Pompierilor (short, 2000)
Occident (2002, Cottbus 2002)
Curcanii nu zboară (2005, short)