Fjord (2026) w/ Sebastian Stan (Cannes best film winner)

I’ve had my eye on this one since it won the Palm D’or at Cannes this year (best film). It feels like it’s this years Sentimental Value and should be up for best international film at this years Oscars. Saw it in theatre yesterday.

I liked it better than Sentimental Value. It’s a slow burn Romanian/Norwegian film about a couple with 5 kids that have strong conservative religious beliefs that moves from Romania to an area of Norway that is much more progressive. The couple has 5 kids and when teachers notice marks on one of the kids they immediately assume the “crazy religious couple” is beating their kids and they are railroaded through the CPS system and their kids are taken. They spend most of the film justifying their beliefs and trying to get their kids back.

It’s a strong look at religious persecution of people with traditional values and beliefs, and how the more progressive parts of Europe view the old school Catholic beliefs of Eastern Europe. I was actually surprised at the glowing reviews it’s received considering how progressive film critics are.

Would be interested to hear anyone else’s thoughts on it and what the ending meant to them.