Much hyped winner of Cannes, and center of a firestorm concerning the wonky way the Oscars pick their foreign language nominees, this film was carrying a great deal of baggage with it when I sat down to watch it on IFC in Theaters on demand service on cable.
The story of the film is simple, two young women, one of whom is pregnant, go to a hotel to get an abortion.Its 1980's Romania and abortion is simply not done. The film looks at the plight of the women, their place in Romanian society as well as the relationship of the two friends.
To be honest the hype surrounding the film did affect my view of the film. I did go into the film with the attitude "Okay hit me with the best film of the year". I came out liking the film but not loving it. Certainly I don't think its the best film of the year. I don't know if I would put near the top of the heap either. Don't get me wrong, its not a bad film, I just didn't connect to it the way that audiences and critics have around the world.
Told in a long takes, often with long silences this is a film that puts you there in the hotel with these women. We are a silent conspirator of sorts to the events that transpire. The effect is to draw us into things in a way that might not otherwise be possible. Tension is generated because things happen in "real" time. There are no cutaways just us and the ladies on screen.
I do like the film and think it is very good. I just never fully connected to it. Partly I know that I am a man and the pain and uncomfortable nature of the situation that would be present had I been a woman isn't there.Had I been a woman I'm guessing this film would have been devastating to sit through I am also largely ignorant of the social situation of the "classless" Romania. I can intellectualize what its like but I never fully connect to it. For what ever reason it is outside my realm of understanding.
There is one other possible problem with the film not effecting me, and that is I was accidentally told something about the end of the film that allowed me to almost know too much going in. In a weird way, between the accidental slip of the tongue and a few pieces on the film, I felt as though I was seeing it for a second time. It is possible to know too much about the film since had I not heard and seen things my attitude would have been different.
Definitely worth seeing. Its very good but not the be all and end all.
7.5 out of 10
The story of the film is simple, two young women, one of whom is pregnant, go to a hotel to get an abortion.Its 1980's Romania and abortion is simply not done. The film looks at the plight of the women, their place in Romanian society as well as the relationship of the two friends.
To be honest the hype surrounding the film did affect my view of the film. I did go into the film with the attitude "Okay hit me with the best film of the year". I came out liking the film but not loving it. Certainly I don't think its the best film of the year. I don't know if I would put near the top of the heap either. Don't get me wrong, its not a bad film, I just didn't connect to it the way that audiences and critics have around the world.
Told in a long takes, often with long silences this is a film that puts you there in the hotel with these women. We are a silent conspirator of sorts to the events that transpire. The effect is to draw us into things in a way that might not otherwise be possible. Tension is generated because things happen in "real" time. There are no cutaways just us and the ladies on screen.
I do like the film and think it is very good. I just never fully connected to it. Partly I know that I am a man and the pain and uncomfortable nature of the situation that would be present had I been a woman isn't there.Had I been a woman I'm guessing this film would have been devastating to sit through I am also largely ignorant of the social situation of the "classless" Romania. I can intellectualize what its like but I never fully connect to it. For what ever reason it is outside my realm of understanding.
There is one other possible problem with the film not effecting me, and that is I was accidentally told something about the end of the film that allowed me to almost know too much going in. In a weird way, between the accidental slip of the tongue and a few pieces on the film, I felt as though I was seeing it for a second time. It is possible to know too much about the film since had I not heard and seen things my attitude would have been different.
Definitely worth seeing. Its very good but not the be all and end all.
7.5 out of 10