4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Dir: Christian Mungiu)

Two women, Otilia and Gabita, smoking cigarettes. Pensive, no unnecessary words between them. Silence. Otilia finally breaks the silence. "Okay," she says and the movie begins. Otilia moves throughout the dorm they share, collecting some belongings and giving Gabita last minute instructions. Then Otilia leaves her Bucharest university campus and begins her harrowing journey.

Set in the Communist Romania of 1987, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, is a story about oppression and about how living in a state of fear can create a sterling bond between the oppressed. Is it hard to imagine Otilia putting herself at such personal risk and sacrificing so much if she lived in relative freedom and safety. Otilia's mission will prove repellent to some of the viewing audience and director Mungiu wisely stays out of the way. He keeps an unflinching eye on the whole affair and lets you decide for yourself.

Director Mungiu's style is not flashy. He uses long takes and tracking shots to try to achieve veracity. This proves successful. With his choices, Mungiu gives the impression more of video diarist than manipulator. He tricks you into believing he is just a passive observer and this allows him more easily to avoid passing judgment on any particular character or action. Mungiu disappears into the film.

4 Months is not a pleasurable film. The director sustains tension throughout the movie and never provides catharsis, even in conclusion. This is a sad story well told and unrelentingly tense. One of the year's best, but you leave the film ill at ease, angered. But art should provoke and unsettle. By this measure, Mungiu is a master.