# ‘Too many stories exist only to make you think you’re on the right side’: Cristian Mungiu on Fjord, his disquieting social drama

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/too-many-stories-exist-only-to-make-you-think-youre-on-the-right-side-cristian-mungiu-on-fjord-his-disquieting-social-drama/
- Published: 2026-11-06T08:00:47+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T08:19:16+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/nov/06/too-many-stories-exist-only-to-make-you-think-youre-on-the-right-side-cristian-mungiu-on-fjord-his-disquieting-social-drama
- Topics: Culture, Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- *Fjord* examines a Romanian family’s clash with Norwegian child protection services.
- Mungiu questions whether Europe has overcome its national and cultural divisions.
- The film continues his focus on migration and globalisation.

## Summary

Cristian Mungiu’s new film, *Fjord*, follows a Romanian-Norwegian family whose move to Norway brings their conservative Christian beliefs into conflict with the country’s liberal norms. When a teacher notices bruises on the eldest child, authorities investigate and separate the parents from their children, turning a family dispute into a wider test of how Europe handles cultural difference.

Mungiu says national identities and cultures remain distinct despite ambitions for a united Europe, and that stories should not simply reassure audiences they are on the “right side”. His earlier films have explored migration and its effects, including the fact that about a quarter of Romanians live abroad. *Fjord* is itself an international co-production, echoing the debate over whether cross-border filmmaking risks producing culturally homogenised films.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.