Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This is my second Romanian movie in 3 weeks to review in WCA. And both of them were the Oscars sent movie that never made into the final stage. My Romanian movie count is not exceeded to double digit, but I think now I started to like them and hoping to watch many more in the days to come. This movie was less expected by me, well, I was delaying it for some times, eventually finished it with highly satisfied.From the director of the Golden Globe Nominee movie '4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days' brings the story of two young women who were once abused when in orphanage that led them to bond closely before going their separate ways after leaving the place. One of them returns from working in Germany to win another's heart back who has now found a place in a convent. How the things work out between them, with their new life and the past attachment that affect not only them but entire convent.If 'Ida' made into the Oscars, I don't know why this one failed to make. Both of them were kind of similar, about the characters who were caught between the faith and emotion. One's true commitment to the faith is tested with the unexpected encounter with the desires. Is the religion too innocence in the modern world? While the human civilisation shifting its phase to the next stage, the 2000 years old belief is struggling to pull together. In that platform this movie was narrated a wonderful story."Continuity is essential in our spiritual realm. You can't stop for a break when you feel like it."The tale was quite clearly displayed when one has to choose between two, even knowing what the reality is, but fixed with their devoted mind on one. Maybe like coming from the orphanage, knowing all the struggles about life, this is the way they pledged to help the society. In the perspective of hardcore believers, the movie might be a little hurtful, but nothing serious offensive. It was just a movie, and sometimes it was a dark comedy that was not intended, but anyway I had a few good laughs.I am really happy for the movie, I won't consider it an outcry about religious cruelty. Unlike hospitals that legally runs performances, while a monastery like this raises a few questions within its practice that performed against someone's will. After all it was inspired by the real even that took place in the 2005 and mostly factual than fiction.This was set in the present time, but most of the movie shot in a convent just outskirt of a city, so gives the feel of the 60s, 70s or earlier to that. Because their lifestyle that disconnects from the rest of the world, including their financial struggle. An ideal location for the story and its title. Shot in two different seasons similar to change in the phase and pace of the tale to the intensified conclusion. I loved everyone's performance. Definitely it is not in the line of 'Spotlight', but you can't ignore where the movie is pointing out on what went wrong. In my opinion, it is a must see and surely suggest it for all, well, mostly adults for its sensitiveness.8/10

Beyond the Hills is an intense film narrating the relationship between two friends, who were once raised in an orphanage together. Alina, a waitress in a bar in Germany visits her friend Voichita, who is now a nun in an orthodox church in rural Romania. Serene atmosphere in the church is shaken upon the arrival of Alina. Incidents that follows seriously raises the questions of conventional religious rituals and shakes the conscience of the audience in Mungiu's style.Even said that the movie deals with the relationship, but that is in the backdrop of the religious practices that are carried out with strong beliefs. Brings out the unquestionable faiths to be subjected for assessment.Movie is pretty intense and it grabs the attention of the audience within a minute or so and keeps you completely engrossed for two and a half hours. Opening scene at the railway station needs a special mention that presents both the characters beautifully.Excessive usage of hand-held camera has been a letdown at some places where a smooth camera movement wouldn't have disturbed audience concentration. Excellent dialogs but seems to be bit excessive and some of them not that important with the story could have been avoided. Absence of BGM throughout the movie and just with the sounds of the ambiance probably makes the audience glued but the failed to make the impression that visuals combined with music can together create.Both the lead actress Cosmina Stratan as Voichita & Cristina Flutur as Alina are pretty good in their roles but the lack of scope on the characterization was a bit let down especially for Cosmina Stratan. Few more shots to reflect her emotions & character might have earned high recognition. But whatever the scope provided all the actors were brilliant.Watching '4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days' was an unique experience as never one has watched such a style on screen before. Beyond the hills is presented with the similar style but still a very good film in its scope.Cristian Mungiu will be on the watch list of many movie bluffs hereafter.

"Dealuri Dupa", aka "Beyond the Hills" is a Romanian movie of 2012. The director, Cristian Mungiu, offers two perspectives in this film. The first, found in the relationship of the two girls, whose lives have taken very different paths, despite the unique connection, which was formed between them during the orphanage years. The differences are so big that they cause serious tensions and conflicts. This bipolar environment, brings us to the second approach, which we find in the Romanian environment, in the hospital, in the streets of the city, and so on. This is a bipolar and contradictory reality. For me, the most interesting subject is the battle between religion and science, good and evil, what is considered right and wrong.

Well,I wanted desperately, not to like, to love this movie... All the premises were there, I couldn't wait for the film to be released... But, as the film was developing in front of my eyes, I was completely feeling less...No attachment to the girls, I didn't even care for one damn second about any of them, the film scratches everything that is supposed to carve upon, the director seems in a hurry to reach something that slips between his fingers...I felt no compassion for that girl, in some moments I was about to scream to her, get out of that place, girl, return to Germany, live your life and put ourselves out of the misery of watching this movie!And one more thing. The performances of both girls, cumulated, multiplied by 100, they never, ever, never ever, are any close to the magnificent performance of Emanuelle Riva in Amour... So , Nanni Moretti, I don't really know what came to your mind when you gave that award to these two, frustrating the beautiful Riva of that super-deserved award