Fjord, Cristian Mungiu’s latest film, received a strong response at its Cannes Film Festival premiere on May 18, 2026 (Monday). The director’s intense exploration of family, faith and state intervention struck a chord with the audience at the event.

Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve play members of the Gheorghiu family in Fjord. The movie showsa Romanian-Norwegian household attempting to rebuild their lives in a remote Norwegian village. Their efforts to settle into the community are disrupted when authorities begin investigating allegations of abuse, leading to the removal of the couple’s children from their custody.

“I want to thank everybody here for trusting me,” Mungiu said, adding that Cannes was the biggest indicator of whether or not the film would leave a lasting legacy.

Fjord explores the tensions between conservative religious values and Scandinavian social systems. It puts the spotlight on the growing scrutiny faced by the Gheorghiu family after concerns are raised about their parenting, turning their lives into painful confrontation with state power.

Mungiu won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2007 for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Hebagged the festival’s best screenplay award for Beyond the Hills and best director honours for Graduation.

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Stan previously attended the festival with The Apprentice, while Reinsve clinched the best actress award for The Worst Person in the World. She was part of Cannes last year with Sentimental Value, the Grand Prix winner. Ahead of its Cannes debut, Fjord was acquired by US distributor Neon.