‘Audiences don’t want to be challenged’: director Cristian Mungiu on exploring bigotry – and giving up film
His Palme d’Or-winner explored abortion in his native Romania, and in RMN the director is tackling anti-immigrant sentiment head on. He explains why Europe should pay attention and whether cinema is dead
March 2017
Cristian Mungiu: ‘We were called the sacrifice generation – and so were our parents'
He grew up in post-communist Romania and his films capture the anxieties of a society emerging from Soviet rule. Cristian Mungiu talks freedom, corruption and parenthood
April 2015
Film blog
My favourite Cannes winner: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Benjamin Lee
In a new series ahead of this year’s Cannes film festival, our writers choose their favourite Palme d’Or winner. Today: Benjamin Lee on Cristian Mungiu’s surprisingly gripping abortion drama from 2007
December 2009
Film blog
Best films of the noughties No 7: 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days
Xan Brooks: Cristian Mungiu's 2007 film about a backstreet abortion is a social-realist tour-de-force that shines a light on the collective amnesia of those who lived through Ceauşescu-era Romania
December 2008
Critics' poll 2008
Number 7: 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days
Speaking volumes and containing multitudes this low-budget Romanian movie was a deserved winner of the Palme d'Or
June 2008
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days
5 stars (Cert 15)
January 2008
Film blog
Film weekly checks out some hip chick flicks
This week on the podcast I've got the director of Things We Lost in the Fire and the star of Cannes winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days
A terminating angel in a time of despair
Film of the week 2: A tale of two women, set in Ceausescu's Romania, turns into a powerful and moving drama
4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days
The secret life of Romania
4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days – review
December 2007
Abortion drama scoops two European awards
Cristian Mungiu's 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days takes best film and best director at the 20th annual European film awards in Berlin
October 2007
Film blog
Winning the Palme d'Or has changed my life
I hope my film 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days generates debate, but I am not passing wisdom or drawing conclusions.
July 2007
Abortion drama to be shown in French schools
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, the Palme d'Or-winning film about an abortion in Ceausescu's Romania is to be screened in French lycées following a u-turn by government officials who had initially vetoed plans to show it.
May 2007
Gritty Romanian tale of abortion and sacrifice wins Cannes Palme d'Or
A disturbing tale of illegal abortion in communist-era Romania won the Cannes film festival's top prize yesterday as director Cristian Mungiu beat 21 contenders to take the much-coveted Palme d'Or for his film 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
