4/5 stars

Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu steps out of his comfort zone with Fjord, a film about a religious couple facing the wrath of Norway’s Child Protection Services.

Nineteen years ago, Mungiu won the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or for his second feature film, the stark abortion drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. This latest film, with Mungiu directing the highest-profile actors of his career, is no less provocative.

Set in a remote Norwegian village with backdrops so spectacular you can practically smell the unpolluted air, the film focuses on the Gheorghiu family.

Mihai (Sebastian Stan) is a Romanian software engineer who has moved with his Norwegian wife, Lisbet (Renate Reinsve), back to her birthplace to raise their five children with strict Evangelical Christian values.

In the opening scene, we see daughter Elia (Vanessa Ceban) admonished by her father; their upbringing consists of daily prayers and Bible study rather than video games and YouTube.