Beyond the Hills

BEYOND THE HILLS is the newest film by Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu. The film marks the return of Mungiu, five years after his internationally celebrated 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS and 2 DAYS. His harrowing but starkly beautiful new film is set in an isolated Orthodox convent in Romania where Alina (Cristina Flutur) has been reunited with her childhood friend Voichita (Cosmina Stratan) after spending several years in Germany. Alina wants to leave and go to back Germany, and wants Voichita, a novice nun, to go with her. But Voichita has found refuge in faith and a family in the nuns and their priest (Valeriu Andriuta) and refuses. When Alina challenges the priest in an attempt to win back Voichita’s affection, she is suspected of being possessed. Mungiu based his gripping drama on a case of alleged demonic possession that occurred in a Romanian monastery in 2005.

BEYOND THE HILLS premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, where it won for Best Actress (for its two leads) and Best Screenplay. It was also featured in the 2012 Toronto and New York film festivals.

The official submission of Romania to the Best Foreign Language Film of the 85th Academy Awards 2013.

"Mungiu's gift for acute observation remains undiminished, as does his willingness to confront failure on all levels of Romanian society." – Kenneth Turan, The Los Angeles Times

"Engrossing... Explores the push and pull between the collective and the individual, between fate and free will." –Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

"A KNOCK-OUT." - J. Hoberman, Artinfo