Cristian Mungiu: Social Realism in Beyond the Hills and Graduation

This article discusses Mungiu’s role within the new Romanian wave, as well as his preoccupation with the Romanian society’s ideological and ethical values. While a large Romanian public still watches socialist era movies for entertainment and because of identifying with an idealized national imagery, Mungius’ films propose an analysis of present-day practices and beliefs, reflecting on the possible heritage a young, democratic society leaves to future generations. Critical of the past, like all new Romanian wave directors, Mungiu scrutinizes the present, closely analyzes actions and expressions of belief, and carefully contextualizes situations to give the viewers a realistic cinematic experience. Reflecting on the past and/or present, his cinema is the mirror of an encounter with a people’s deep subconscious and the nation’s dilemma of the return of the repressed.