Fjord

When a deeply religious Romanian family settle in a small, fjord-flanked village, they appear to harmonise with their new neighbours despite their differences. However, when suspicions are piqued over the bruises on one of the children’s arms, deep-seated prejudices surface and frictions between two worldviews shatter the peace. Mungiu previously looked at religious conservatism with Beyond the Hills, but in this provocative piece he deploys his unhurried style to examine the flaws and limitations of disparate voices, spanning progressivism and conservatism, while also taking aim at the actions of state institutions and religious orders. Stan and Reinsve are outstanding as the parents, building their characters within Mungiu’s signature long takes in a way that avoids easy answers to a seemingly straightforward situation, continually challenging us to consider who to empathise with and why. Kimberley Sheehan, Lead Programmer A Picturehouse release. Screen: NFT1. Screening details: English language subtitles.