Diksha Sundriyal
Cristian Mungiu will explore the tense drama between two families in his next feature, ‘Fjord,’ which will start filming in the spring of 2025 in Ålesund and Vestland, Norway. Set in a small village in Norway, the plot focuses on the increasingly complicated dynamics between two families. While one spouse in each relationship is a Norwegian, the other belongs to a different nationality. Both couples have children of the same age, which, at first, gives them a common ground to bond over.
However, as the narrative progresses, the differences between the two families come to light, especially in the way they choose to raise their children. Questions and concerns regarding social and cultural differences are added to the mix, with each questioning the values of the other. Through their conflict, the movie will explore the meaning of privacy and what it means to live in a free and tolerant space.
The cast of ‘Fjord’ is headlined by Sebastian Stan. Best known for playing Bucky Barnes, also known as the Winter Soldier, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor has recently turned towards more dramatic roles and displayed his knack for grey characters that toe the line between good and bad. He was seen in Aaron Schimberg’s ‘A Different Man’ as a struggling actor with neurofibromatosis who goes through a transformation that changes his body but not his mind. In Ali Abbasi’s ‘The Apprentice,’ he appeared as a young Donald Trump, starring alongside Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn.
Stan is set to make a return to the MCU with ‘Thunderbolts*,’ which will pair him up with Florence Pugh and David Harbour. He will also reunite with his ‘Pam & Tommy’ co-star, Lily James, in Christian Tafdrup’s upcoming horror thriller ‘Let the Evil Go West.’ The actor’s collaboration with Mungiu reflects his desire to work more in Romanian productions. Stan was born in Romania and lived in the European country till he was eight years old. He still speaks Romanian and expressed the wish to work in the language to get closer to his birth nation’s history.
In 2018, Stan attended a film festival organized by Mungiu in Romania, leading to the duo’s collaboration on this international co-production. One of the country’s most celebrated directors, Mungiu is known for films like ‘Occident,’ ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’ (which won Palme d’Or in 2007), and ‘Graduation’ (for which he won the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival). His last feature was ‘R.M.N.,’ which was inspired by the 2020 Ditrău xenophobic incident and follows the story of a man’s complicated relationship with his ex.
No other major cast members have been announced so far. However, a casting call was launched to find boys and girls between ages 6 and 14 of Romanian descent who live in Norway and speak Romanian, English, and Norwegian. The project also received support from Romania’s National Center of Cinematography (CNC) in the form of 3.5 million lei in funds. This is the largest amount awarded by the government body to finance a film in recent times.
Read More: Dune: Prophecy Season 2 Starts Filming in Budapest and Amman Later This Year
