“Fjord” praised at Cannes with an emotional story about conflict between religion and state

Staff Report: PNN

The Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu’s new film “Fjord” moved audiences at the Cannes Film Festival. After the premiere, the audience gave a standing ovation for 10 consecutive minutes. During that emotional moment, actors Sebastian Stan and actress Renate Reinsve were unable to hold back their tears.

The heartfelt family drama was screened on Monday night at the Grand Palais of the Cannes Film Festival. The film deeply portrays the conflict between family, religious beliefs, and the state system.

The story of “Fjord” revolves around a Romanian family. Hoping for a new life, they move to a small town in Norway. However, gradually they become distant from the strict religious values and the local social system. At one point, allegations of child abuse are made against the family, and the state takes custody of their children.

In various scenes of the film, strong emotional reactions were seen from the audience. In particular, the scenes where children are separated from their family created a deep silence and emotional atmosphere in the hall.

After the screening, Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve could not hold back their emotions during the long standing ovation. Tears were seen in their eyes, which deeply moved the audience present.

Director Cristian Mungiu thanked the audience, saying: “The trust you have shown in the film is our greatest achievement.” He also said that the reaction of Cannes audiences plays an important role in determining the long-term impact of a film.

Cristian Mungiu is already a well-known figure at Cannes. His film “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” won the Palme d’Or. He also won Best Screenplay for “Beyond the Hills” and Best Director for “Graduation”.

On the other hand, Sebastian Stan attended Cannes last year with “The Apprentice.” Renate Reinsve won Best Actress at Cannes in 2021 for “The Worst Person in the World.”

Meanwhile, before its release, the distribution rights of the film were acquired by Neon. In recent years, the company has gained attention as the distributor of several award-winning Cannes films.