Beyond the Hills
Director: Cristian Mungiu
IMDB Rating 7.6 (12/27/13)
PuRock's Rating (10): 6
Pros: Unique beautiful setting, uncommon subject matter
Cons: Lengthy, lack of depth
I've had this on my que for a while. To me it was a mystery yet to be seen. Well I saw it. The film is very unique and beautifully shot. But in the end it is just another take on the often told story of exorcisms. This is not a horror film by any means. Its a drama that centers around a monastery in the hills of Romania.
What this film tackles are ideas about religion and abandonment. Why does the 'sick' girl exhibit such anger when her best friend is not around? When is the line between the philosophy of religion and medical realms crossed? Is God really playing a role in the outcome?
Potential Spolier Section:
Throughout the film the inhabitants of the monastery try to 'push' the godly way onto the ill girl. They do this to try and cleanse her and get her healthy. How does this work with mental illness? At one point they used this paraphrased line "God gives you what you can handle, but not what you need". Was the outcome of the film an indication of what she can handle?
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