Romanian director Cristian Mungiu was awarded the highest accolade of the 60th edition of the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival for his ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days’, a harrowing story of sacrifice and friendship set in Ceausescu’s Romania.

The director was handed the award by screen legend Jane Fonda during the Cannes Closing Ceremony which took place on the evening of Sunday 27 May 2007. Cristian Mungiu’s film emerged as favourite in direct competition with two American features for this year’s Palme d’Or: ‘No Country for Old Men’ by the Coen Brothers, and ‘Death Proof’ by Quentin Tarantino.

It is the first time a Romanian feature film is awarded the Palme d’Or. Cristian Mungiu follows in the footsteps of other Romanian winners at Cannes, such as Ion Popescu Gopo (Palme d’Or for Short Film, for ‘Short History’, 1957), Liviu Ciulei (Award for Best Director, for ‘The Forest of the Hanged’, 1965. The film was presented in Cannes Classics this year); Cristi Puiu (Un Certain Regard, for ‘The Death of Mr Lazarescu’, 2005); Corneliu Porumboiu (Camera d’Or for Debut Feature, for ’12:08 East of Bucharest’, 2006). This edition of Cannes also rewarded the late Cristian Nemescu, with Un Certain Regard Prize, for his debut feature ‘California Dreamin’ (Endless)’.

Cristian Mungiu’s film was also awarded the International Critics Prize by the Jury of the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics). In addition, the French National Education Administration Prize, which singles out films for their usefulness as learning resources, awarded its prize to ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days’.

During the closing ceremony at the Grand Theatre Lumiere, Cristian Mungiu said: “It seems like a fairy tale. One year ago we didn’t have any idea about this project and some six months ago, we didn’t have any money to make it and finally, we were just hoping to be in Cannes in any kind of competition. [...] The kind of attention that we got here all along the Festival, this story that we believe in so much, is going to reach lots of people now. I also hope that this award that I’m getting now is going to be of good use for small filmmakers in small countries everywhere, because it looks like you don’t necessarily need a big budget and a lot of stars to have your story heard.”

Cristian Mungiu also said: “I honestly think this is just about the best event that happened to a wave of Romanian cinema that manifested itself in the last years already. I’m very happy to thank my colleagues, Romanian filmmakers. Without their successes in the past years, I couldn’t have been here. […] This really gives us a sort of confidence. It’s the ultimate recognition for a filmmaker. And it gives us the strength to go on with other good stories.”

Synopsis:

‘4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days’ is the story of a student in Communist Romania who endures unimaginable horrors to ensure that her friend can have a backstreet abortion. Otilia and Gabita are students; they share a room in a hall of residence in Bucharest. Gabita is pregnant. The girls arrange to meet a certain Mr. Bebe in a cheap hotel. He will perform Gabita’s illegal abortion. But Mr. Bebe refuses their money and demands to be paid in kind.
‘4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days’ belongs to a larger project called Tales from the Golden Age - a subjective history of communism in Romania told through its urban legends.

Biography Cristian Mungiu:

Writer / Director / Producer
Born in 1968, Cristian Mungiu studied English and American literature. A graduate of Bucharest film school, he worked as assistant director on some 15 features from 1994 to 1998. A journalist for various magazines, he has published short stories in literary periodicals and directed several prize-winning shorts. ‘Occident’ was his first feature. He co-founded Mobra Films in 2003.

Filmography:

1996 ‘Horia Viorel Brief’ (short film documentary), 1997 ‘Mariana’ (short film), 1998 ‘The Hand of Paulista’ (short), 2000 ‘Nothing by Chance’ (short), 2000 ‘Zapping’ (short), 2000 ‘The Fireman’s Choir’ (short), 2002 ‘Occident’ (feature), 2005 ‘Turkey Girl’ (short), 2007 ‘4 months, 3 weeks & 2 days’ (feature).

What they say about ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days’:

“The Romanian film that got the Palme d’Or is a great work. The Romanian people can be proud of this director. It was a pleasure to watch every second of it.”
Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, member of the jury, on Cannes Festival press release

“Mungiu’s movie is simple and powerful: it moves smoothly forward and becomes steadily more gripping with a narrative flow that looks easy.”
Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian, 28 May 2007

“Mere words can’t tell you how brilliantly composed and riveting this film is”
James Christopher in The Times, 24 May 2007

“A confidently handled and meticulously acted drama”
Sukhdev Sandhu in The Daily Telegraph, 27 May 2007

“Pitch perfect and brilliantly acted, ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days’ is a stunning achievement, helmed with purity and honesty”
Jay Weissberg in Variety, 17 May 2007

“Aesthetically akin to the films of the Dardennes Brothers. A reference point for all other competitors [in the Festival].”
Philippe Azoury in L’Eliberation, 26 May 2007

“An engaged, incredibly frank film”
Melanie Carpentier in Evene.fr

The debut feature of director Cristian Mungiu, ‘Occident’, was presented in London in the Romanian Film Club, in April 2003. We hope there won’t be too long before the British audience can see ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days,’ a film that can be deservedly called a triumph of Romanian cinema.

For Cristian Mungiu’s blog and a full press coverage, check the film’s website at www.4months3weeksand2days.com.