"Fjord" Review: Romanian Faith Meets Norway's Welfare State in Palme d'Or Winner

"Fjord," directed by Cristian Mungiu and winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes in May, premieres in Norwegian cinemas on Friday, September 4. The drama depicts a cultural clash between conservative Romanian faith and Norway's secular welfare state. The film follows Lisbet and Mihai, a Romanian-Norwegian family of seven settling in a rural Norwegian village. After a teacher reports bruises on their daughter, Norwegian child welfare services swiftly place all five children in care, sparking a conflict between modern bureaucracy and pre-modern traditions. Inspired by recent Norwegian child welfare cases, including the 2015 Naustdal case, the film avoids taking sides. It features standout performances from Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, with Mungiu's skeptical view of state institutions offering a thought-provoking, nuanced perspective on the collision of worldviews.