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“A brilliant, scary portrayal of irrationality and fear in Europe's dark heart.” - The Guardian
When twenty-something Alina arrives in Moldavia to remove her childhood friend Voichita from an Orthodox monastery, she doesn't reckon on the unyielding force of religion and devout Voichita's choice of God over Alina brings their relationship to a physical and moral crisis.
In his first feature since the Palme d'Or-winning 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (MIFF 07), gifted Romanian director Cristian Mungiu's unsettling psychological drama is inspired by the non-fiction novels of Tatiana Niculescu Bran, based on the reports of a BBC correspondent who exposed an exorcism case at a Moldavian monastery in 2005. Winning the Best Screenplay award at Cannes and drawing excellent performances from his first-time lead actors (who shared the Best Actress gong at Cannes), Mungiu tackles some major themes with an unhurried pace and cinematography that depicts the harsh environment with a spare yet beautiful naturalism.
“It is an engrossingly serious work, and confirms Mungiu as a maturing talent.” - Hollywood Reporter
D/P/S Cristian Mungiu Dist Madman Entertainment L Romanian w/English subtitles TD DCP/2012