Beyond the Hills

Love, faith and fanaticism collide as two young Romanian women test the boundaries of their relationship within the confines of a strict Orthodox convent.

Voichița, a novice nun living in a desolate Romanian convent, is reunited with Alina, who has come from Germany to take Voichița back with her. Having grown up in an orphanage together, Alina finds that Voichița is reluctant to leave and resume their previous relationship. More worryingly, she finds her under the watchful eye of the charismatic priest who heads the convent, whom she calls Papa.

Alina begins to display disturbing behaviour as she takes desperate measures to win back Voichița and challenge the strict orthodoxy of the convent.

Curator’s note
Based on true events surrounding an exorcism that goes tragically awry, Cristian Mungiu brings a thoughtful and intelligent eye to material that could have easily been sensationalised in other hands. Instead, he paints a complex portrait of the institutions, be it state or church, that failed these two women, leading to the film’s sobering conclusion.

Winner of Best Screenplay and joint Best Actress awards at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, Beyond the Hills is further testament to Mungiu’s standing as one of the most astute chroniclers of contemporary Romanian society.