It's been a few years since Romanian director Cristian Mungiu took Cannes by storm with his Palm d'Or-winning 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days. That film is still seared into my memory as one of the most uncomfortable yet totally gripping experiences I've had. Mungiu returned to the festival last year with Beyond the Hills, and was greeted just as warmly, taking home the Best Screenplay award while stars Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur shared the Best Actress prize.
Mungiu's trademark neo-realism is in full display in the first official trailer for the film, which turns a dark eye towards ideas of faith, love, and religion. The story follows two Romanian women who grew up in an orphanage together, developing a relationship closer to kin than mere friendship. When one leaves for Germany and enters a strictly orthodox convent, the other arrives to bring her back but isn't prepared for the disturbing challenges that await her.
Beyond the Hills opens in limited release on March 8th.
Beyond the Hills - trailer #2 [HD] English subtitles (2012) (Πίσω Από Τους Λόφους / După dealuri) Cristian Mungiu (Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Valeriu Andriuţă, Dana Tapalagă) by myfilm-gr
