Starring: Adi Carauleanu, Luminiţa Gheorghiu, Mădălina Ghiţescu, Vlad Ivanov
Director: Cristian Mungiu
Country: Romania
Genre: Foreign, Drama

If you made a list of topics that make for uncomfortable film viewing, I am willing to bet ‘an abortion’ would be pretty high up there. But sometimes uncomfortable issues can be dealt with in such a way that it adds perspective to the topic, brings the topic into the open, and stamps an impression that is sure to linger for a very.long.time. Such is the case with this hard-to-watch Romanian Palm D’Or winner. It’s sometimes unbearable in a Hanake-sort-of-way, but the film is crafted marvelously. It shows the sacrifice in ways I’ve never imagined, not just on film, but in all of human nature. I can’t recommend this enough, but only for those who seek it, and those who are prepared to handle the topic. It’s searing.