4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

Cristian Mungiu's beautiful and harrowing drama, about a college girl arranging an illegal abortion for her roommate in the last days of the Ceausescu dictatorship in Romania, is a grueling and deeply affecting human drama and a powerful portrait of life in an oppressive society. Anamaria Marinca is heartbreaking as the young woman who hardens herself to help her friend (Laura Vasiliu) get through a devastating ordeal. Mungiu wields the camera with blunt power and subtle discretion, yet, through it all, finds strength, perseverance and commitment under the desperation, a small miracle in such circumstances, and a magnificent reward in such an exquisite film. The disc features the 15-minute documentary "1 Month With 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," a portrait of the film's reception in Romania, where it was taken around the country to play tents and performance halls, and video interviews with director Mungiu and cinematographer Oleg Mutu. All in Romanian with English subtitles.