A tragic exorcism in a Romanian convent inspired this award-winning 2012 drama film
In short: Cristian Mungiu's Beyond the Hills explores the harrowing intersection of faith and tragedy. Based on the real-life 2005 Tanacu exorcism, the film follows two orphaned friends whose reunion at a remote monastery spirals into a fatal confrontation between secular desperation and rigid religious dogma, leading to a police investigation.
The film follows Voichița and Alina, two former roommates from a children's home who reunite at an Eastern Orthodox convent in Romania. While Voichița has embraced monastic life, Alina, who had been working in Germany, struggles to adapt to the strict religious environment. The narrative tension escalates when Alina’s attempts to reconcile her past relationship with Voichița are met with the Priest's insistence on confession and the convent's rigid adherence to Lenten discipline.
The situation turns dire when the community interprets Alina's erratic behavior and mental distress as demonic possession. Following a failed suicide attempt, Alina is subjected to a brutal ritual involving physical restraint on a board. The intervention of hospital staff, who discover the fatal consequences of these restraints, triggers a legal inquiry. The Priest attempts to justify the confinement as a protective measure against self-harm, drawing a controversial analogy to parental authority, which the investigating officer firmly rejects.
Cristian Mungiu’s screenplay draws directly from two novels by Tatiana Niculescu Bran, which documented the actual 2005 Tanacu exorcism in Moldavia. The production, supported by international funding from Belgium, France, and Romania, premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. It received significant critical acclaim, including the Best Screenplay award and a shared Best Actress prize for leads Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan, though some critics remained divided over its portrayal of the events.
Beyond the Hills serves as a stark examination of the clash between institutional faith and individual autonomy. By focusing on the specific, claustrophobic dynamics of the convent, Mungiu highlights how isolation and dogmatic certainty can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The film’s reception, including a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a placement on Sight & Sound’s best-of-2012 list, underscores its lasting impact as a challenging, unadorned look at a real-world tragedy.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Beyond the Hills
- Also: Beyond the Hills
- Also: Wikidata — Beyond the hills where suns go down · CC0
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