Now I understand that the two films I'm going to discuss are not exactly alike in regards to their plots, but they have the similar theme of an unwanted pregnancy. The two films I'm going to compare are Juno and the Romanian film 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days.
We all know what Juno is about. Ellen Page gets pregnant and wants to give her child up for adoption. It is pretty evident that this film does not stress on the 'this could ruin my life' aspect of a teen pregnancy. This movie is filled with funny dialogue and a lot of jokes about a situation most people would not joke about. Now I'm not saying that all teen pregnancies are horrible and terrible, but Juno definitely sugar coated a lot of important issues.
One the other hand 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days so the drastically different side to an unwanted pregnancy. The main character gets pregnant (obviously) and chooses to get an abortion, which was illegal in 1984, when the film is set. Unable to do anything else, the girl arranges an abortion, even though it is very dangerous. Unlike Juno, this film really shows the dramatic aspects of getting pregnant when you don't want to. Now again, I understand that this film's approach to unwanted pregnancy isn't like most, but it definitely shows the most realistic and emotional side of pregnancy.
Both of these films are good in different ways. I liked Juno for its humor and sarcasm, but not for its realism. I really liked 4 M, 3 W and 2 D for its more realistic and dramatic side.
i really like your juxtaposition of the two films! i have not seen the romanian film, but now i want to. juno does take something serious and mediate it with humor. but i thought a lot was done with the main character in making her even if not believable interesting and more than a "cliche." i mean, 16 and pregnant or teen mom are "reality" shows, and as much of an interesting distraction these shows are, they do not make me "think" the way that the well acted characterizations in juno did, and certainly probably does not come close to the film you mention in terms of meaningful effect. so i say all this to say that it seems like the medium and amount of reality will not guarantee the outcome or that those outcomes are different and that that is okay. i can watch juno for good popular cinema, the romanian film for excellent cinema, and teen mom because, well, nothing else is on tv!
ReplyDeletewell done --