What the movie is about
The film is set in Communist Romania in the final years of the Nicolae Ceaușescu era and tells the story of two students, roommates in a university dormitory, who try to procure an illegal abortion. Inspired by an anecdote from the period and the general social historic context, it depicts the loyalty of the two friends and the struggles they face.
Why it's worth watching
Academic Judit Pieldner summed up the plot as “the story of a friendship facing a moral test”. The film won three awards at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, including the Palme d’Or. It went on to win numerous honours, including Best Film at the European Film Awards and Romania’s national Gopo Awards. More important, it brings in the social discourse the subjects of censorship, women’s rights, and class and generational conflicts.
