writ. and dir. Cristian Mungiu
feat. Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov, Alexandru Potocean
Director Cristian Mungiu deftly weaves a story of black market abortion in Ceausescu regime Communist Romania by choosing the perspective of the pregnant woman's friend. In selecting an approach that would seem to distance the viewer from the subject, he instead focuses even more pointedly on the pain and resounding emotional effects of a difficult decision.
From the outset, Otilia (Marinca) proves resilient and reliable, making arrangements, booking a hotel room and bringing the abortionist (Ivanov) there, while the the pregnant Gabriela (Vailiu) botches important details, a lack of preparedness that stems from a combination of personality and an understandable reaction to the daunting predicament of securing a highly illegal, terrifying operation. When it comes to it, far more tense and threatening than the procedure itself is the negotiation leading up to it, a kind of black market drug deal where the dealer is well aware that he has the upper hand. Here the full cost of the choice is brought to bear, desperation forcing the friends to pay more than their friendship may be able to afford, and pushing Otilia to the brink, challenging her sanity and beliefs as she calls her whole life into question.
As thoughtfully and thoroughly the film explores emotional pain, it decisively avoids gruesome imagery, instead leading the viewer to the moment, then leaving the rest to the imagination. One key exception is an unforgettably searing shot that will challenge some to keep their eyes open, a singular image that is arguably mandatory. Without it, the subject would not be fully realized.
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