Sebastian Stars in Norwegian Drama 'Fjord'

The new film Fjord is now playing in select theaters. The movie stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a couple navigating a custody dispute in Norway.

The story follows Mihai, played by Stan, and his wife Lisbet, played by Reinsve. The couple has recently moved back to Lisbet’s home country of Norway. They have five children, all of whom were born in Romania, Mihai’s home country. The family belongs to an unspecified Evangelical Christian sect.

The central conflict begins when the family’s oldest daughter, Elia, played by Vanessa Ceban, arrives at school with bruises on her body. A local Child Protective Services system intervenes in the family’s life. The children are removed from the home while authorities investigate the parents.

Mihai and Lisbet acknowledge using minor physical punishment. However, they deny causing the specific bruising observed by school staff. The investigation proceeds despite a lack of hard evidence against the parents. The film depicts a system that appears overzealous in its response to the family.

Cristian Mungiu wrote and directed the film. The narrative relies heavily on cultural and linguistic differences. Characters switch between Norwegian, English, and Romanian throughout the story. These language barriers lead to misunderstandings about specific words and actions. The film uses these exchanges to show how perceptions of the family change based on interpretation.

The movie also addresses religious tensions. Mungiu keeps the family’s specific religious practices vague but indicates they lean conservative. This stance puts them at odds with the liberal society of Norway. Several characters voice disapproval of the family’s beliefs. The film frames the progressive characters as having their own prejudices, limiting the parents’ ability to object to their treatment.

The setting contributes to the film’s tone. The cold, forbidding landscape of Norway adds to the dramatic tension. Mungiu includes side stories involving the family’s neighbors. These subplots cover a rebellious neighbor’s daughter and the parents’ ailing father. These elements add complexity to the characters without drastically altering the main plot.

Stan brings a stoic but firm demeanor to the role of Mihai. The actor appears with a bald head and a less showy performance style than in recent films. Reinsve serves as the emotional center of the movie. The two actors display strong chemistry after previously co-starring in the film A Different Man. The supporting cast, including the actors portraying lawyers, portrays a legal system that differs from that in the United States.

The film holds back where Western storytellers might offer more explanation. It leaves many things unspoken. Viewers are left to decide for themselves who is right or wrong in the dispute. The debate over the family’s fate continues even after the credits roll.