Beyond the Hills

2012 2h 30m RO

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 220

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Alina returns to Romania from Germany, hoping to bring Voichita—the only person in the world she loves and was loved by—back with her. But Voichita has found God, and God is the hardest lover of all to best.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Cosmina Stratan
Voichita
Cristina Flutur
Alina
Valeriu Andriuță
Priest
Dana Tapalagă
Mother superior
Cătălina Harabagiu
Antonia
Gina Tandura
nun Iustina
Vica Agache
nun Elisabeta
Nora Covali

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Cristian Mungiu
Writers: Cristian Mungiu
Languages: Romanian
Countries: Romania, France, Belgium

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Clocks in at 150 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 14 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Romania, France, Belgium.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Cristian Mungiu, shot by Oleg Mutu. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Mircea Olteanu shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur and Valeriu Andriuță carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt2258281 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Cristian Mungiu directs. Oleg Mutu behind the camera. Mircea Olteanu cuts. Produced in Romania, France, Belgium. Dialogue in Romanian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Clocks in at 150 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.
2Released 14 years ago.
3International production across 3 countries: Romania, France, Belgium.
4Directed by Cristian Mungiu, shot by Oleg Mutu. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Mircea Olteanu shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur and Valeriu Andriuță carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt2258281 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Oleg Mutu
Editing: Mircea Olteanu
Production design: Călin Papură
Costume design: Dana Păpăruz
Makeup / hair: Clara Tudose
Runtime: 150 min · 2h 30m
Status: Released
Box office: $124,919
Original language: RO
IMDB: Beyond the Hills (2012)

Also by

Cristian Mungiu

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2016-03-14
★ 8/10
Between faith and winning a heart back. This is my second Romanian movie in 3 weeks to review in WCA. And both of them were the Oscars sent movie that never made into the final stage. My Romanian movie count is not exceeded to double digit, but I think now I started to like them and hoping to watch many more in the days to come. This movie was less expected by me, well, I was delaying it for some times, eventually finished it with highly satisfied. From the director of the Golden Globe Nominee movie '4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days' brings the story of two young women who were once abused when in orphanage that led them to bond closely before going their separate ways after leaving the place. One of them returns from working in Germany to win another's heart back who has now found a place in a convent. How the things work out between them, with their new life and the past attachment that affect not only them but entire convent. If 'Ida' made into the Oscars, I don't know why this one failed to make. Both of them were kind of similar, about the characters who were caught between the faith and emotion. One's true commitment to the faith is tested with the unexpected encounter with the desires. Is the religion too innocence in the modern world? While the human civilisation shifting its phase to the next stage, the 2000 years old belief is struggling to pull together. In that platform this movie was narrated a wonderful story. "Continuity is essential in our spiritual realm. You can't stop for a break when you feel like it." The tale was quite clearly displayed when one has to choose between two, even knowing what the reality is, but fixed with their devoted mind on one. Maybe like coming from the orphanage, knowing all the struggles about life, this is the way they pledged to help the society. In the perspective of hardcore believers, the movie might be a little hurtful, but nothing serious offensive. It was just a movie, and sometimes it was a dark comedy that was not intended, but anyway I had a few good laughs. I am really happy for the movie, I won't consider it an outcry about religious cruelty. Unlike hospitals that legally runs performances, while a monastery like this raises a few questions within its practice that performed against someone's will. After all it was inspired by the real even that took place in the 2005 and mostly factual than fiction. This was set in the present time, but most of the movie shot in a convent just outskirt of a city, so gives the feel of the 60s, 70s or earlier to that. Because their lifestyle that disconnects from the rest of the world, including their financial struggle. An ideal location for the story and its title. Shot in two different seasons similar to change in the phase and pace of the tale to the intensified conclusion. I loved everyone's performance. Definitely it is not in the line of 'Spotlight', but you can't ignore where the movie is pointing out on what went wrong. In my opinion, it is a must see and surely suggest it for all, well, mostly adults for its sensitiveness. 8/10

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