Beyond the Hills

An Orthodox monastery in rural Romania is the location for a fierce conflict between implacable faith and liberated secular desires in this drama based on real-life events. At its core is a love story between two young women brought up in a state orphanage, who meet again when Cristina Flutur returns from working in Germany to visit her beloved Cosmina Stratan, now a nun at a religious community up in the hills. It's obvious that romantic elopement is on Cristina's mind, but she underestimates the degree to which the prescriptions of the church have altered the bond between them - and misjudges the lengths to which the priest and his sisters will go to claim another soul. Director Cristian Mungiu (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) undoubtedly takes his time in allowing the progressively harrowing events to unfold, but rewards the patient viewer with a powerful portrayal of the carnage inflicted by good intentions, closed minds and sheer incomprehension. It's a demanding, extremely worthwhile film, whose courageous female leads went on to share the best actress award at Cannes in 2012.