Beyond the Hills

Alina returns from Germany to Romania with a hidden plan to bring Voichita, the only person she loves, back into her life. Voichita, however, has chosen a radically different love, one that belongs to God and a life inside a cloister. The two women are bound by memory and longing, yet they must negotiate a tangle of duty, faith, and stubborn attachment as the world outside pressurizes them. The film follows their fragile reunions and the slow, tense questions that arise when desire collides with vocation. What begins as a private wish becomes a confrontation with authority, tradition, and the limits of personal choice in a harsh, ascetic landscape. No easy answers emerge, only consequences.

Directed by Cristian Mungiu, the film unfolds from an original screenplay crafted with Tatiana Niculescu-Bran. It continues Mungiu’s stark realism and moral ambiguity, situating a tightly observed drama within a bleak Romanian setting that mirrors the characters' inner conflicts. It premiered at major festivals in 2012, underscoring a continuing push in Eastern European cinema.

The film's quiet, uncompromising style helped anchor Romania's modern cinema on the festival circuit. Critics repeatedly noted the performances of Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur, whose restrained chemistry made faith and desire feel dangerously intimate. The work is often cited in discussions of the Romanian New Wave's moral seriousness.

Critics praised its moral ambiguity and spare storytelling for inviting viewers to wrestle with power, guilt, and personal autonomy. It foregrounds how institutions shape love and choice, while staying focused on two women whose affection is tested by external demands and a weathered, austere world.

Awards: The film earned recognition on the international festival circuit and was praised for its performances, direction, and technical restraint. It became a touchstone example of the intensity and calm that characterize modern Romanian cinema.