4 luni, 3 s?pt?mâni ?i 2 zile
Today, I went with three people from our dormitory corridor to the Cinéma du Panthéon to see this film, and I was surprised how everybody actually liked it! If you have seen it, you would immediately understand: The pace is extremely slow – in a lot of cases, we just have a close-up of Otilia breathing; and actually there is no *real* end. In a lot of senses, the film has reminded me of Kie?lowski’s work: His film are also very slow-paced, play in communist eastern european countries and are very, very emotional. Throughout the whole film, you can feel the character’s pain and angst, it’s incredible. What made the film so great is three-fold: First, the way the characters behaved towards each other (which reminded me a lot of 25th Hour); second, the cruelty of the environment and the constant fear of getting caught; and finally, the most probably rather accurate portrait of Romania.
I disliked Gabriela really. (Actually I started disliking her from the first point when she said that she dislikes Palmolive O.o How can she expect so much from her friend?) I don’t really blame her for having gotten pregnant, because everything can happen. (And because I am in no position to say anything really, but that’s another issue.) However, she lied to everybody and he seriously hurt them. Also asking Otilia to bury her child is understandable, but she has no right to put her into danger like that after Otilia had to, well, I can’t say it. Obviously Otilia also had to lie to Gabriela, but in some ways, I really could feel with her – basically she really is a good protagonist to sympathize and suffer with. Her characterization (especially in her dispute with her boyfriend, that reminded me so much of myself, oh God!) was perfectly done, I am amazed.
The thing I could say brings me to the second point: the environment. The doctor was the biggest asshole possible (and obviously he lied the whole time too). I can only hope that the girls won’t give him the rest of the money, but actually I also expect it. I mean, what can he do afterwards anyways? When you are desperate, obviously you cannot expect any help, but this was just too cruel to watch.
By the way, I didn’t realize what they talked about until Otilia started to take off her socks, and that actually shocked me quite a bit. Also, the scene afterwards when she washed herself was very believably done – however, I wonder what the guy really did, I mean.. she might have become pregnant now as well? *faint*
All the other people (especially those in the hotels) were not less cruel… It made me realize that the film also is supposed to be a portrait of the society of the Romania of that time. I can’t say much about it because I basically know nothing about the country and I am always sceptical about whether films can give a satisfying overall portrait on a country I don’t know yet; but somehow, the film looked very believable and well done.
The last point I should mention is the theme of abortion itself: I myself am horribly scared of having an abortion, even when it is legal and done with lots of precaution. So this fear alone has already made me much more susceptible for the feelings of the girls – it was the clearest to me in the discussion with Otilia’s boyfriend when she confronted him with the possibility that she might become pregnant as well. You are never 100% sure, which makes it even scarier.
Oh, I also liked how nobody, not even the boyfriend, talked much about morals – the amorality of the film was refreshing and the focus on the characters (and not ethnical discussions) helped a lot to us to sympathize with the girls so that the film in the end was slow, suspenseful and emotional at the same time.
PS. I know why I came to Paris: BN cakes, Orangina and Crème brûlée.
PPS. It is really interesting to see the Panthéon at night. I have been at the place during daytime and after sunset, the whole environment is even more charming and romantic in some ways…