4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

In 1987, in a nameless town in Romania, two university students, Otilia Mihărtescu and Gabriela “Găbița” Drăguț, share a dormitory as roommates. The situation escalates when Găbița faces an unexpected pregnancy, leading the pair to arrange a clandestine meeting with a man named Mr. Bebe, who is set to perform an illegal abortion at a hotel. The day begins with Găbița’s anxiety apparent as she waits nervously, while Otilia busies herself gathering supplies, like soap and cigarettes, from the dormitory shop. Subsequently, Otilia takes a bus to see her boyfriend Adi to borrow money. Although she initially declines Adi’s invitation to visit his family for his mother’s birthday, she eventually agrees after sensing his disappointment.

Once at the Unirea hotel, Otilia is confronted by an unhelpful receptionist, who informs her that no reservation exists under Găbița’s name. Seeking alternatives, she eventually manages to secure an expensive room at the Tineretului hotel after much pleading. In a phone conversation with Găbița, Otilia sets off to meet Mr. Bebe at a designated location, but his displeasure becomes palpable when he learns that Găbița won’t be present for the appointment.

Inside the room at Tineretului, Mr. Bebe discovers that Găbița had misled them about her pregnancy duration, indicating it is much further along than initially stated. This revelation escalates the situation, increasing not only the complexity of the procedure but also the potential for serious legal consequences. Initially expecting to pay no more than 3,000 lei, both women soon comprehend that Bebe desires much more than a mere transaction; he expects them to engage in sexual acts to secure the abortion. In a moment of desperation, Otilia complies with his demands, mirroring Găbița’s actions, as Bebe prepares for the procedure in an unorthodox and disturbing manner.

After this traumatic ordeal, Otilia leaves Găbița to attend Adi’s family gathering. Though trying to mask her distress, Otilia endures the hollow conversations around her, stuck in a cloud of discomfort as her mind races with thoughts of Găbița. When a guest’s discussion on lost values and respect surfaces, Otilia quietly reflects on her situation and her own views on pregnancy and abortion amid her disagreements with Adi. Afterward, she attempts to contact Găbița, but upon receiving no response, she decides to return to the hotel.

Upon her return, Otilia finds Găbița lying on the bed, revealing that the fetus has been expelled and is in the bathroom. With a heavy heart, Otilia wraps the fetus in towels, obligated to follow Găbița’s request to dispose of it. Following Mr. Bebe’s prior suggestion, she journeys to the top of a building and, feeling an overwhelming weight on her shoulders, drops the bag into a trash chute. When she returns, she finds Găbița in the restaurant, and Otilia candidly declares that they will never discuss the troubling events they have just endured, leaving her to stare blankly at Găbița, the silence echoing the gravity of their shared experience.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 18:19