A nagging Hollywood problem may never go away.
The industry’s groupthink allows for certain stories to be told while others are ignored.
That makes “Fjord” a miracle of sorts. The story examines government overreach and attacks on religious freedom, two verboten topics to modern filmmakers.
That it does so with intelligence, insight and nuance may be too many miracles to process.
“Fjord” earned the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. An impressive Oscar run could do more than spike the competition. It might give storytellers permission to tap other narratives lurking in plain sight.
Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve play Mihai and Lisbet Gheorghiu, a Christian couple who move their large brood to Norway as the story opens. They’re met with kindness from the locals, even if some appear uneasy with their spiritual leanings.
The simple act of tinkling a few notes from “Amazing Grace” on a piano is frowned upon. Uh oh.
Serious trouble brews when their oldest daughter Elia (Vanessa Ceban) goes to school with visible bruises. Word spreads, and soon the local Child Protective Services division is investigating the marks and the Gheorghius’ parenting practices.
The children are ripped from Mihai and Lisbet based on suspicions alone. Did the parents hit their child? Was it part of their “old-school” religious training? What rights do they have as parents, and when can the State move in and presume they can raise children better?
Heady issues, all, and “Fjord” is just warming up.
Don’t miss Cristian Mungiu’s most gripping film yet. The Palme d’Or winning FJORD is now playing in select theaters, everywhere October 23. Get tickets: https://t.co/hUv1kdGD5R https://t.co/GxZL40rZpI
— NEON (@neonrated) October 15, 2026
Romanian director Cristian Mungiu grew up under Communist rule, and his screenplay even name-checks the insidious philosophy in a heated exchange.
“If you don’t do what they want, they’ll ‘civilize’ you,” one character warns. Imagine how this Norwegian hamlet would treat a devout Muslim family.
Other character quotes are just as chilling.
“We always believe the children,” says Gunda (Ellen Dorrit Petersen), part of the draconian Child Protective Services team. Now, consider how many experts insist a student isn’t the sex they were born into, a topic that’s impossible to ignore while watching “Fjord.”
Tudor Vladimir Panduru’s plainspoken cinematography offers a sharp contrast to the film’s dramatic elements. The natural beauty is breathtaking but deceptive.
Just ask Mihai and Lisbet.
“Fjord” isn’t here to present the family in crisis through rose-colored glasses. Their children, while smart and disciplined, aren’t able to dance in public and have other religious views that some would deem severe.
Those fearing a right-leaning affair can look no further than an intriguing subplot involving an elderly man who wants to end his life on his terms. That’s hardly a Limbaugh-like take.
Performances are strong across the board, with both Stan and Reinsve channeling their parental rage for peak impact. Smaller is better, and these devout characters can only bury so much anguish.
“Fjord” isn’t here to lecture but to suggest the natural conclusions of an unchecked progressive world. It’s a miracle how many left-leaning critics have wrapped their arms around the film.
It’s even more miraculous that a thoughtful film on this subject exists. Period.
HiT or Miss: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 2 hours, 26 minutes
Where to Watch: In theaters Oct. 23
Family Friendly? R (Nudity, adult language and mature themes)
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