Post by depletedreasons on Nov 26, 2007 3:20:50 GMT -5
Foetus shots are not meant to shock: Romanian director Mungiu
Romanian director Cristian Mungiu has focussed a lot on the human foetus in his award-winning '4 months, 3 Weeks and amp; 2 Days', a film set in the time of president Nicolae Ceausescu and his directive against abortion, but denies he wants to shock.
The foetus is the property of the entire society - how this law imposed by Ceausescu in 1966 crippled the lives of women of that era forms the premise of Mungiu's film, which was shown at the ongoing International Film Festival of India here.
'If the film shocks people, it's their problem. For me it's a normal thing. Since the beginning of the movie I have tried to be honest. I showed what was normal. Had I tried not showing the foetus, then it would have been something abnormal,' the director said at a press conference. The film won the 2006 Palme d'Or at Cannes.
Set in 1987, the film revolves around two friends sharing a dorm in a hostel. One of them gets pregnant and what all happens when she decides to abort the foetus with the help of her friend is what the film tells. Women were terrified to go to the hospital and the director succeeds in capturing the fear realistically in his film.
'The story is told from the perspective of people living then and trying to lead a normal life and solve day to day issues. But I must also add that the film is not just about abortion as perceived by many. I was looking for a good story which is relevant and has emotions and makes people think about things they usually don't,' Mungiu said.
'Ceausescu was concerned about the low rate of population growth. He brought this law to increase the country's population and have more working hands. Half a million women died while having illegal abortions. Some people asked me whether they could use condoms, but this law restricted access to contraception as well. He increased allowances for large families and a woman who had 10 children would get a medal from the president.'
Annamaria Maric, who plays the protagonist in the film, says that it was the most difficult role of her life.
She said: 'It was the most difficult task for me to try to escape myself, deny the thoughts of a modern woman and try not to judge what's happening. In terms of emotions we handled it very well. But after completing the film I decided not to get into something like this again.'
Mungiu says communism had a strong influence on him.
To a remark that his film leaves many questions unanswered, Mungiu said: 'Life works like that. You don't get all answers in real life. My film is a slice of life and therefore I have left many questions unanswered.'
A film graduate, Mungiu worked as a teacher and a journalist before venturing into filmmaking. '4 Months, 3 Weeks and amp; 2 Nights' is not his first film to enter Cannes. His short film 'Occident' too went to Cannes in 2002.
Although making the film was a smooth ride for the Mungiu, showing it to his own people became a challenge.
'The problem back home is the lack of theatres. In a country which has 20 million people, there are only 40 theatres. So we arranged a caravan that travelled throughout the country showing the movie. In fact, I am going to produce a documentary on the release of the film.'
Asked to explain a particular scene where the protagonist takes out a knife, Mungiu took a pot shot at Hollywood films saying, 'People don't kill just like that. It just happens in Hollywood films where people keep shooting each other.'
The film will have a commercial release in India next month. Mungiu, who has showcased the film in more than 60 countries, said the announcement came as a surprise for him.
www.indiaenews.com/bollywood/20071125/82587.htm
Romanian director Cristian Mungiu has focussed a lot on the human foetus in his award-winning '4 months, 3 Weeks and amp; 2 Days', a film set in the time of president Nicolae Ceausescu and his directive against abortion, but denies he wants to shock.
The foetus is the property of the entire society - how this law imposed by Ceausescu in 1966 crippled the lives of women of that era forms the premise of Mungiu's film, which was shown at the ongoing International Film Festival of India here.
'If the film shocks people, it's their problem. For me it's a normal thing. Since the beginning of the movie I have tried to be honest. I showed what was normal. Had I tried not showing the foetus, then it would have been something abnormal,' the director said at a press conference. The film won the 2006 Palme d'Or at Cannes.
Set in 1987, the film revolves around two friends sharing a dorm in a hostel. One of them gets pregnant and what all happens when she decides to abort the foetus with the help of her friend is what the film tells. Women were terrified to go to the hospital and the director succeeds in capturing the fear realistically in his film.
'The story is told from the perspective of people living then and trying to lead a normal life and solve day to day issues. But I must also add that the film is not just about abortion as perceived by many. I was looking for a good story which is relevant and has emotions and makes people think about things they usually don't,' Mungiu said.
'Ceausescu was concerned about the low rate of population growth. He brought this law to increase the country's population and have more working hands. Half a million women died while having illegal abortions. Some people asked me whether they could use condoms, but this law restricted access to contraception as well. He increased allowances for large families and a woman who had 10 children would get a medal from the president.'
Annamaria Maric, who plays the protagonist in the film, says that it was the most difficult role of her life.
She said: 'It was the most difficult task for me to try to escape myself, deny the thoughts of a modern woman and try not to judge what's happening. In terms of emotions we handled it very well. But after completing the film I decided not to get into something like this again.'
Mungiu says communism had a strong influence on him.
To a remark that his film leaves many questions unanswered, Mungiu said: 'Life works like that. You don't get all answers in real life. My film is a slice of life and therefore I have left many questions unanswered.'
A film graduate, Mungiu worked as a teacher and a journalist before venturing into filmmaking. '4 Months, 3 Weeks and amp; 2 Nights' is not his first film to enter Cannes. His short film 'Occident' too went to Cannes in 2002.
Although making the film was a smooth ride for the Mungiu, showing it to his own people became a challenge.
'The problem back home is the lack of theatres. In a country which has 20 million people, there are only 40 theatres. So we arranged a caravan that travelled throughout the country showing the movie. In fact, I am going to produce a documentary on the release of the film.'
Asked to explain a particular scene where the protagonist takes out a knife, Mungiu took a pot shot at Hollywood films saying, 'People don't kill just like that. It just happens in Hollywood films where people keep shooting each other.'
The film will have a commercial release in India next month. Mungiu, who has showcased the film in more than 60 countries, said the announcement came as a surprise for him.
www.indiaenews.com/bollywood/20071125/82587.htm