Dupa dealuri (2012)

The friendship between two young women who grew up in the same orphanage; one has found refuge at a convent in Romania and refuses to leave with her friend, who now lives in Germany.

Director:

Cristian Mungiu

Writers:

Cristian Mungiu (screenplay), Tatiana Niculescu Bran (inspired by non-fiction novels of)

Stars:

Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Valeriu Andriuta

4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cosmina Stratan	...	Voichita
Cristina Flutur	...	Alina
Valeriu Andriuta	...	Priest
Dana Tapalaga	...	Mother superior
Catalina Harabagiu	...	Antonia
Gina Tandura	...	nun Iustina
Vica Agache	...	nun Elisabeta
Nora Covali	...	Nun Pahomia
Dionisie Vitcu	...	Mr. Valerica
Ionut Ghinea	...	Ionut
Liliana Mocanu	...	mother Elena
Doru Ana	...	Father Nusu
Costache Babii	...	Doctor Solovastru
Luminita Gheorghiu	...	Schoolteacher
Alina Berzunteanu	...	doctor Radu

Storyline

Alina and Voichita have been friends since their orphanage days. And they have been lovers since they became sexually mature. But despite their oath of mutual fidelity, Alina, who could not bear poverty any more, emigrated to Germany where she became a barmaid. Now she just could not take the estrangement from Alina and today she is back to Moldavia with a view to taking Voichita along with her to Germany. The only trouble is that in the meantime her girlfriend has betrayed her in falling in love with... God! Voichita indeed now lives in a convent where she plans to make vows. The priest agrees, if somewhat reluctantly, to accommodate Alina before their (hypothetical) departure. He sees all too well that not only is the young woman materialistic but hostile and troublesome as well...

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Plot Keywords:

romania | convent | nun | lesbian nun | priest | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

Romania France Belgium

Language:

Romanian

Release Date:

26 October 2012 (Romania)

Also Known As:

Au-delà des collines

Filming Locations:

Romania

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$14,622 (USA) (8 March 2013)

Gross:

$109,248 (USA) (19 April 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mobra Films, Why Not Productions, Les Films du Fleuve

Technical Specs

Runtime:

150 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Swiss censorship certificate: # 1009.093.

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Quotes

Priest: The man who leaves and the man who comes back are not the same.

User Reviews

Beyond the Hills

Based on a true story of an exorcism gone wrong in an Orthodox monastery, Cristian Mungiu's new film could have been a simple story of innocent girl vs. superstitious religious zealots, but Mungiu never takes the easy route. Instead, he creates layers upon layers of complexity in characters, relationships and motivations until what finally happens acquires the devastating inevitability of Greek tragedy. Most of all, just like in his previous 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, he takes what could have been a mere anecdote and lays bare the societal forces that shape people's actions, be it Communism in the first, or patriarchal religion in this film. ***1/2