04/02/2025 - Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve star in the upcoming feature by the award-winning Romanian filmmaker, exploring the friction between two families from different backgrounds

l-r: Director Cristian Mungiu (© Fabrizio de Gennaro/Cineuropa), actor Sebastian Stan (© Dario Caruso/Cineuropa) and actress Renate Reinsve (© Dario Caruso/Cineuropa)

Romanian Palme d'Or winner Cristian Mungiu is set to begin filming his highly anticipated first English-language feature, Fjord, in Norway this March. This marks a shift for Mungiu, from his usual Romanian settings to the stark landscapes of Scandinavia. Fjord, a tense family drama, will be shot over 40 days in Ålesund in the picturesque Møre & Romsdal region of Norway. 

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 globalised 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, featuring Romanian-American actor Sebastian Stan and Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve in the lead roles. Stan plays Mihai, a Romanian expatriate living in Norway. Known for his roles in both Hollywood blockbusters and nuanced dramas, Stan recently earned Best Actor nominations at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Academy Awards for The Apprentice [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]. Born in Romania and moving to the U.S. as a child, Stan has expressed a strong desire to explore his roots through this project. Reinsve, internationally acclaimed for The Worst Person in the World [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile], plays Lisbet, Mihai’s Norwegian counterpart. The two previously collaborated on A Different Man by Aaron Schimberg. The film will also feature a cast of local Norwegian and Romanian actors, with an open casting call for children aged 6 to 14 who speak Romanian, English, and Norwegian.

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 [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cristian Mungiu
interview: Oleg Mutu
film profile] (Palme d'Or winner) and Graduation [+see also:
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Q&A: Cristian Mungiu
interview: Cristian Mungiu
film profile] (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. [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cristian Mungiu
interview: Judith State
film profile]. The film’s editing will be handled by Mircea Olteanu, also frequent Mungiu collaborator.

In addition, Marius Winje Brustad (The Innocents [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Eskil Vogt
film profile]) serves as the production designer, while Helsinki-based artist Kirsi Gum (The Missile [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) is the costume designer. The film’s sound department is led by Constantin Fleancu and also includes Pietu Korconen, and Kristian Eidnes.

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. French sales agent Goodfellas will begin pre-sales of the film at the EFM, with a release anticipated in 2026.