Beyond the Hills

Beyond the Hills was suggested by our member Chauncey Zhang, who writes: ‘Congratulations to Cristian Mungiu for winning the Palme’Or this year for his film Fjord. A retrospective of this brilliant director or even Romanian New Wave is awaiting!! Personally, I look forward to seeing Beyond the Hills on the big screen. Thank you!’

​With this arresting drama based on notorious real-life events, Cristian Mungiu mounts a complex inquiry into faith, fanaticism, and indifference. At a desolate Romanian monastery, a young novice nun, Voichița (Cosmina Stratan), reunites with her former companion Alina (Cristina Flutur), who plans to take her to Germany. But Voichița proves unwilling to abandon her calling, and Alina becomes increasingly desperate to reclaim her devotion, putting the outsider at odds with the monastery’s ascetic priest—and precipitating a painfully misguided, brutal attempt to save her soul.

A naturalistic tragedy with the dark force of a folktale, anchored by the fraught dynamic between cinema newcomers Flutur and Stratan (who shared the best actress prize at Cannes), Beyond the Hills bears powerful witness to individuals at cross-purposes and institutions ill-equipped to help those most in need.

Please note, the screening on Thursday 8 October is our free members’ screening, whilst Wednesday 14 October is a regular screening, which is open to the general public.

Cast:
Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Valeriu Andriuță, Dana Tapălagă

Please arrive promptly - we do not show adverts.

Part of Members' Events Cristian Mungiu, Romania, France, 2012, 146m.