Film distributor Neon has released the official trailer for Fjord, a new drama starring 44-year-old actor Sebastian Stan as a father under investigation in Norway.
The film, directed by Romanian auteur Cristian Mungiu, won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival last May and has already earned widespread positive reviews from critics.
Stan stars alongside 38-year-old Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve. The duo portray a married couple with five children who find themselves targeted by authorities over alarming behavior toward their offspring.
In the story, Stan plays a Romanian man who relocates to Norway with his Norwegian wife, played by Reinsve, to be closer to her family. The family settles in an isolated, closed seaside community, but tension quickly mounts around their home life.
Investigation and allegations
The trouble begins when schoolteachers notice unexplained bruises on the couple's eldest daughter. The discovery raises immediate questions about the family's strict religious beliefs and the rigid discipline the parents enforce on their children.
The incident prompts a formal investigation by Norwegian child protection services. The inquiry escalates rapidly, placing the parents at risk of criminal conviction as suspicion deepens within the small town.
According to the official synopsis provided by the filmmakers, the couple's teenage children quickly bond with a neighboring family while local unease over the household's strict religious lifestyle continues to grow.
When formal allegations of abuse emerge, the parents are forced to confront a crisis system that blurs the boundaries between child protection and systemic prejudice.
Reunion for Stan and Reinsve
The feature marks the second collaboration between Stan and Reinsve, following their appearance together in the 2024 film A Different Man.
Fjord offers both leads a rare opportunity to play characters originating from their respective homelands. Stan was born in Romania before moving to the United States as a child, while Reinsve is native to Norway.
Stan is widely recognized for his portrayal of Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and for his performances in independent feature films. Reinsve gained international prominence after winning the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021 for her starring role in The Worst Person in the World.
Cast and production background
The couple's eldest children are portrayed by teenage actors Vanessa Cuban and Jonathan Ciprian Briz. The supporting cast features an ensemble of Norwegian performers, including Lisa Carlehed, Henriette Lund-Olsen, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Lisa Loven Kongsli, and Markus Tønseth.
Director Cristian Mungiu is a leading figure in contemporary European cinema and a prominent filmmaker of the Romanian New Wave. He previously won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2007 for his acclaimed drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
The Cannes Film Festival, held annually on the French Riviera, is regarded as one of the world's most prestigious cinema events. US distributor Neon has built a reputation for acquiring high-profile festival titles, having handled several previous Palme d'Or winners for North American release.
