Christian Mungiu‘s 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days is getting a one-week Oscar qualifying run in Los Angeles starting on 12.21. This will make it slightly easier for various critics groups to give it their Best Foreign Film prize, if they’re so inclined. Before the December date was anounced, the plan was to open it through IFC First Take on 1.25.08.

HE reader Mary Chan wrote yesterday with observations about the shift, to wit:

“As you know, IFC had planned to release 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days through IFC First Take. But the official site of IFC doesn’t mention 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days as an IFC First Take release. Nor is this mentioned on the poster credit block.

“Presumably this means that IFC will release 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days through IFC Films rather than IFC First Take (which means it won’t be released simultaneously in theaters and via video-on-demand). This seems like good news for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. According to IFC’s policy, if they think that a movie isn’t likely to gross more than $1 million in US, they’ll send it to IFC First Take; if they foresee more than $1 million in US, it goes out under IFC Films.”