Beyond the Hills (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

7 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cosmina Stratan	...	Voichita
Cristina Flutur	...	Alina Ringhis
Valeriu Andriuta	...	Priest (as Valeriu Andriutã)
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 Voichita and today she is back to Romania 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:

monastery | convent | romania | priest | romanian new wave | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

Romania France Belgium

Language:

Romanian

Release Date:

26 October 2012 (Romania)

Also Known As:

Beyond the Hills

Filming Locations:

Romania

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,622, 10 March 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$109,248, 21 April 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mobra Films, Why Not Productions, Les Films du Fleuve

Technical Specs

Runtime:

152 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Official submission of Romania for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 85th Academy Awards in 2013.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2012 (2012)

User Reviews

another in depth social observation from Mungiu

Mungiu has managed in his films a perfect balance between portraying specific Romanian social-cultural issues and in the same time rendering them universal for the public abroad. He touches some of the Romanian taboos like the Orthodox church and its often brainwash practises, the efficiency of God-like doctors or the dark side of some of the do-gooders in social aid and work. The irony is that while all the characters in the film proclaim often and loud that they are sympathetic towards the orphan girl they are also the authors of her greatest abuses , from financial rip off to medical neglect or physical restraint .The system itself is rejecting the poorest and most vulnerable young people as is pointed out throughout the film by the recurrent motif of 'we have nowhere to go' leaving them in the hands of an often merciless world .In the very best of tradition of the superstitious Christian Romanian culture the real problems are avoided as they will throw a negative light back on everyone so it is easiest to blame all on evil spirits .The last scene gives a great insight into an emotionally devoid society , when such individual drama will become another media circus headline.