Fjord

Romanian Palme d'Or winner Cristian Mungiu’s highly anticipated first English-language feature, Fjord marks a shift from his previous Romanian settings to the stark landscapes of Scandinavia. It will be filmed in Norway and partially post-produced by Göteborg-based Filmgate Films.

The plot revolves around two families living in a small, remote Norwegian village. One family is Romanian and has moved to the village where the mother was born, while the other is Swedish-Norwegian. Their children, of similar age, attend the same school, and the families initially bond over their shared experiences as parents. However, their seemingly harmonious relationship begins to unravel as differing cultural perspectives on family life, education, and societal values emerge, especially when suspicions arise that the newly arrived couple is harming their own children. The film explores the challenges of reconciling personal beliefs with societal norms in an increasingly globalized world, diving deep into cultural differences, the boundaries of personal privacy, and the limits of tolerance within a close-knit community.

Fjord features a stellar cast, starring Romanian-American actor Sebastian Stan and Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve in the lead roles. Stan plays Mihai, a Romanian expat living in Norway. Sebastian Stan recently earned Best Actor nominations at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, for Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice (co-produced by Film i Väst). Renate Reinsve, internationally acclaimed for Joachim Triers The Worst Person in the World (co-produced by Film i Väst), plays Lisbet, Mihai’s Norwegian partner.

Mungiu, who also wrote the script for Fjord, is known for his exploration of complex social issues, as demonstrated in his previous films, including 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Palme d'Or winner) and (Best Director at Cannes). For Fjord, Mungiu reunites with several long-time collaborators, including Romanian cinematographer Tudor Vladimir Panduru, who worked on Mungiu’s R.M.N. (co-produced by Film i Väst).

Fjord is produced by Cristian Mungiu and Tudor Reu through Mobra Films (Romania), with co-producers including Why Not Productions (France), Eye Eye Pictures (Norway), Snowglobe Film (Denmark), Aamu Film Company (Finland), and Filmgate Films (Sweden). The film has already secured substantial support from key industry bodies, including the Romanian Film Centre (CNC), Creative Europe - MEDIA, Film i Vast, and the Western Norway Film Commission.