By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.25 cats
Director: Cristian Mungiu
Starring: arin Grigore | Judith State | Macrina Barladeanu | Orsolya Moldován | Rácz Endre
Year: 2023
Running time: 125
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18550182/reference/
Diane says: “The latest from Cristian Mungiu, of 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS, R.M.N. Is like the titular MRI of the (diseased?) mind of Transylvania. In a small town, a flourishing industrial bakery has to import and house workers from Sri Lanka, while a local who works as a slaughterer in Germany comes home to help his traumatized son. It’s a very complex film, and if one weren’t so busy moving on to the next, would deserve a second viewing.
“The film has an extensive cast of villagers with all kinds of relationships, and outstanding cinematography in both color and static wide shots that convey much in scenes from lovers’ beds to village celebrations. Ultimately,
R.M.N. Is about the stress that the EU places on struggling communities–which relates to the economic struggles and anti-immigration sentiment in the US. Some reviewers say that Mungiu is not judging, but an extended church scene and the pantywaist response of the priest seemed pretty condemning to me.
“Nobody seems to understand the ending, but it reminded me of SPOOR, which also had a main female character whose left-leaning tendencies put her in opposition to the rest of her hometown, and in which wild animals both threaten and give identity to a place. Bring your best brain. 4 cats.”
Julie B. says: “If anyone hasn’t seen this yet, I’ll just say that at the end you’ll be googling meaning of the ending and of course R.M.N. I got most things (I feel …as yes there are a few interpretations) but did miss one rather big item slightly. Will have to look at that scene again to see if I indeed missed something or it was implied.
“It’s good fun in that way but the subject matter is sad in many aspects, angry, but timely. Would have fit well in Peg’s wonderful article. 4.5 cats“
