4 MONTHS 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS

RYAN: “Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes… how do you measure…” an abortion?

CAROLINE: The proper length of time, as delineated in the title of the film, is “4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days,” and it is indeed about an abortion. An illegal abortion no less, received in 1987 Romania.

RYAN: Thank you for seeing this movie without me because I was completely uninterested.

CAROLINE: I, on the other hand, really wanted to see it. I had read somewhere that it was a travesty that this film didn’t get nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar, so I was tres curieuse. Henceforth I ran out to my local IFC to see it.

RYAN: And?

CAROLINE: Much like last year’s roundly praised German film, “The Lives of Others,” I was not completely taken with this film.

RYAN: Was it as gross and gritty as we anticipated?

CAROLINE: It’s pretty gritty, yes. It’s about two friends trying to obtain an illegal abortion for one of them, and when they don’t have enough money, what happens is pretty horrible.

RYAN: Was it entertaining?

CAROLINE: I don’t know if I’d use that word, but it was at times. It’s really a story of friendship and loyalty, and what the lead girl does for her friend who needs the abortion is pretty remarkable. But some of the scenes are really graphic. They go ahead and show the aborted fetus, so be warned.

RYAN: Wow. Overall, was it riveting and worth your time?

CAROLINE: Some scenes were really amazing and then in others, I found myself getting bored. I really liked parts of it but overall, it dragged for me and felt too long. The lead girl is amazing though. She pretty much carries the whole film. And there are some really well shot scenes that are static but convey a lot of feeling.

RYAN: I’m bored just hearing you talk about it.

CAROLINE: It’s not a movie for you. LBH, I’m glad you didn’t come with me because then I would have had to listen to you bitch the whole time about being bored.

RYAN: So what’s your bottom line?

CAROLINE: If you’re into artsy foreign films, you’ll probably like it. But other than that, you can skip it.

RYAN: You’re a saint for letting me.