Fjord Film Review: Intense Courtroom Drama

Fjord is an intricate look at the cultural differences a family is subjected to when they’re accused of hurting their children after moving to Norway.

As the film begins introducing its characters, we find out that they really are a part of a close-knit, loving family. But the more that’s revealed, the more the layers of this perfect family are peeled back to uncover something more sinister.

Lisbet Gheorghius (Reinsve) is a poised mother, only ever thinking of her and husband Mihai Gheorghiu’s (Stan) five children’s best interests. Lisbet and Mihai decide to move to Norway, to a little town in the middle of nowhere, to raise their kids and expand their careers, leaving Mihai’s Romanian hometown behind. They become close friends with the neighbouring family, the Halbergs, who have key leadership roles at the school to continuously keep an eye out on the children. The Gheorghuis operate on very conservative Christian values which they’ve implemented on the children, making sure they pray every night and attend Church at least every Sunday. 

This ideology that they live by causes a little bit of a stir when one of their children is accused of bringing religion into school by criticising someone’s sexual orientation. But that’s not the height of the family’s problems. When a teacher at school notices a bruise on one of their kids, it creates complications with child services and the police, as their family descends into a trial that examines cultural differences between Norway and Romania. What can you do as a parent to prove you haven’t hurt your child when no witnesses were there to see how they got the mark on their shoulder? 

Reinsve is calm and collected as Lisbet, a complete contrast to her usual roles. In Sentimental Value and Worst Person in the World, her characters are loud and outspoken, but there’s so much more compassion for Lisbet than Julie (WPITW) or Nora (SV). She loves all of her children equally, and would never do anything to put them in harm’s way. Reinsve and Stan once again reunite after their stint together in A Different Man back in 2021. Their relationship here is closer and intense, and their chemistry works on many levels. 

Mihai adores all five of his kids, too, but his upbringing in a different country to Lisbet means he has a different way of giving punishment, which sometimes is a small – but controversial, in Norway – smack on the backside. He never admits to hurting his children, but he does claim that this act of a slight touch is how he keeps them under control, especially when they’re misbehaving. Fjord sees this accusation spiral out of control as friends are lost, children are taken away and the Gheorghui family is put at breaking point. 

By the end, Fjord turns into a courtroom drama that feels like it would be the most intense “accusation double bill” with Anatomy of a Fall. It’s a script-heavy film that never has time for a breather, but it works, and it creates an uneasy atmosphere from start to finish. Cristian Mungiu’s screenplays are usually conflict-heavy, with Fjord trying to balance what actually is wrong in the eyes of the law. Is the Gheorghiu family guilty? Or are they at the tip of a smear campaign that leaves them at fault no matter what? 

Fjord premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2026.