For Mungiu, the film is not the exact mirror of reality, but a laboratory of truth – a space where you can test the limits of identity and empathy. The director points out that when you make art, from a peripheral culture, verticality, rigor and courage to show “what is not seen” become all the more emblematic. This is how Romanian artists are more appreciated abroad than they at home, where they are “tolerated, not respected”. Once again, with “Fjord”, his next feature film filmed in Norway, starring Sebastian Stan, the director escaped “from the Mioritic Paradigm of Deal-velale”.
“The Daily”: How was the experience of returning to Norway to film “Fjord”? How did you furnish the northern space, beyond cold and dark, in the footsteps of Bergman and Strindberg?
Cristian Mungiu: I felt great in Norway and, speaking of identity, I sometimes felt more “home” there than at home. People were fair, parolistic, positive, respectful, involved, but alike with a sense of humor, very communicative, if you knew how to melt the ice of the early politeness. We didn’t do anything special to understand ourselves – but we were ourselves respecting what we were detecting the politeness and habits of the place. But somehow, our directness, warmth and familiarity rushed communication, and at “Fjord” we worked as a team formed, say, from Moldovans, Bucharesters and Norwegians, Danes and so on.
The film cast in Norway means a major decorum change from the urban or rural landscapes in Romania. How did this frame affect the story?
“Fjord” is still a film very close to what I did before, even if it is spoken in another language and is filmed in another country. It’s a also realistic story, also inspired by our daily life, while reflecting on our differences in understanding society and the consequences that relocation to another mental space, when you come with your home ideas. The fact that we escaped from the Mioritic hill-wave paradigm did not majorly influence the structure of the film, because that paradigm is integrated into our DNA is not related to tourist landscapes. But yes, there is an extraordinary greatness of those places – which I hope I have captured in the film – and which speaks of how the landscape, distance, loneliness and population density also influence the worldview.
Sebastian Stan, rhythm and depthHow did Sebastian Stan’s presence influence in the film’s cast? Have you felt major differences in rhythm, working style or approach to the role on the part of it?
– No. We worked very well together, in the style in which we work here, in Europe, in Romania: in the plane-sequence, on a precise text, with a repeated and harsh choreography. Sebastian is a very gifted and subtle actor and gives a lot of strength and naturalness to the character he plays. He had no problem getting into the skin of a character as he can no more different than those he gives life in the series “Marvel”. But yes, from what I talked to him, our working styles (American and Romanian) are as different as it can be – much like the difference between a factory, with assembly line, and a creative boutique.
[…]
When will the film “Fjord” premiere?
We hope that “Fjord” will have its premiere next year, both on the international one and the premiers in the territories. The film is sold from the script phase in more than 60 countries.
Category: Articles
Felipe Gálvez’s “The Settlers” was one of the true finds of Cannes 2023. The neo-western followed three horsemen hired by a wealthy landowner to clear his territory of its native population and open a route to the Atlantic.
Nastily rendered violence collides with Chile’s shameful past—one that seems to have been almost completely erased from the history books. It also cemented Gálvez as a talent to watch, making his sophomore effort highly anticipated.
Gálvez has now set his second feature film; it’s called “Impunity,” a spy thriller set in the late 1990s around the arrest of dictator Augusto Pinochet. Sebastian Stan will star, and since his character speaks Spanish for half the film, he is currently learning the language.
Based on Philippe Sands’ book “38 Londres Street,” the film centers on a former spy tasked with preventing the Chilean dictator’s escape after his arrest in London sparks international tensions. Pinochet was indicted for human rights abuses in Chile by former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón and was detained in 1998 at London Bridge Hospital. He remained under house arrest for 18 months before being released by the U.K. government in 2000.
A 2026 production star is expect for “Impunity.” No further casting details just yet.
Gálvez’s “The Settlers” competed in Un Certain Regard and for the Caméra d’Or at Cannes. The film won the FIPRESCI critics’ award, marking the first Chilean film to receive the prize.
As for Stan, formerly Bucky in the MCU, he’s coming off his Oscar-nominated turn as Donald Trump in “The Apprentice” and has now turned his attention to auteur-driven cinema, with upcoming films from Radu Jude, Cristian Mungiu, and Justin Kurzel.
Sebastian Stan is getting candid about his time with Marvel.
During a recent interview on the “Stronger Podcast,” Stan, who played Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, across seven Marvel films, said the blockbuster giant “really helped” him grow as a person and actor. However, now, at 43 years old, he’s trying to expand past the comic book action.
“I have to try to offer something different than before,” Stan said. “And I’ve never favored one role over another. The Marvel stuff, I’ll always, till the end of time, [feel it] really helped me grow as a person and helped me grow as an actor and it taught me relationships and [I worked with] Robert Downey [Jr.] and Scarlett [Johansson] and all these people I looked up to. It was a business. It was a family and it gave me a sense of belonging, and it’s always there for that, but it was only the step one for me.”
Stan added that he feels “lucky” that his more refined work in films like “The Apprentice” and “A Different Man” came later in life. He added he looks at “young guys like Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler” and sees them achieving things “I could not have done at their age.”
Due to his Romanian heritage, Stan also noted it took some time to fit in with the American movie industry.
“There was a significant part of my youth that I had to spend to get Americanized or to fit in and really find my way in a different way,” he explained. “But it’s really now that I feel I’m finally getting to do the stuff I’ve always wanted to do.”
2025 was a breakout year for Stan in terms of award recognition. His leading performance in “A Different Man” earned him a Golden Globe. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of Donald Trump in “The Apprentice.”
The following conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
The Film Stage: I’m really fascinated to hear more about Fjörd, if you’re able to talk a bit about it today. It’s your first time filming in Norway and your first time working with big-name stars. Did you feel a change in your approach in any way?
Cristian Mungiu: Well, I think that it’s the same kind of cinema that I did before. And I don’t know––we will see––I hope it makes a difference in terms of interest from the spectators, to watch these talented people. I was not working within the star system before now, but I was happy to work with these people without having to change my way of making cinema. We got along quite well and I’m happy that I started with Sebastian, because he speaks some Romanian and he wished to speak Romanian in the film. I’m very curious to see what’s going to be the continuation of this once I move on and try to work with well-known actors who don’t speak Romanian. What will happen there? I’m really curious.
[…]
I’ve read that Fjörd will focus on two families, specifically around cultural differences regarding raising children. Will this topic of education be the central focus?
It doesn’t happen inside a school, but yes, these are always the institutions that are most important in society. Since I have this preoccupation with what we are passing to the next generation, there are children there, but it’s not so much about what school tells us; it’s about the difference between what school tells us and how people see what real life is. Because it’s not at all the same thing. What you tell your children can be very different, based on what education you got. You have to understand that they don’t live in the same kind of world that you lived in, so you have to adapt as a parent. For a parent, this means finding the right balance between the values you try to pass down and the freedom that you need to give to children, hoping that they will be wiser and more empathetic than we were.
Fjörd will be released in 2026 by NEON.
Elle Man [via Google Translate]
Note: for the accompanying photos click here: Session #167 – Mathieu Rainaud
Sebastian Stan has just starred in Cartier’s new campaign for the Santos de Cartier line. The actor shared his special affection for the iconic watch and his appreciation for the brand.
Sebastian Stan is an actor and producer who rose to fame with his diverse roles in Ridley Scott’s The Martian (2015) and Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya (2017). In 2022, his performance in the hit miniseries Pam & Tommy earned Sebastian Golden Globe, Emmy, and Critics’ Choice nominations.
At the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, Sebastian Stan won his first award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical . He was also awarded the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 74th Berlin Film Festival, and received the Nouvel Hollywood Award at the Deauville Film Festival for his role in A Different Man (2024).
Sebastian Stan recently appeared in an image campaign for the Santos de Cartier watch line. The actor shared his special attachment to the Santos line in particular, as well as his admiration for the Cartier brand.
Can you share more about your connection with Cartier watches?
Sebastian Stan : To this day, I still enjoy watching classic movies from the 40s and 50s, and I am particularly impressed by the elegant fashion style of this period. I found it very interesting that many actors chose to wear Cartier watches. These designs possess a timeless beauty, both sophisticated and natural. It is not difficult to understand why these creations still retain their appeal today. I have been with Cartier for many years, and to me, the brand’s creations always have a classic mark, never out of fashion.
What do you look for in a watch?
Sebastian Stan : I always think a watch should go beyond telling the time to say something about you. When I wear a watch, I also get rid of the need to look at my phone to check the time. That’s what I like about wearing this accessory on my wrist. But more importantly, a watch also has to have a presence. It’s not just the look, weight and style, but also the feeling when you wear it on your wrist.
What attracted you to Santos de Cartier?
Sebastian Stan: The Santos de Cartier is most appealing for its bold style and iconic design. I particularly love the versatility of this piece, which can be worn with both formal and casual outfits.I usually wear the Santos de Cartier slightly loose, enjoying the movement of the piece on my wrist. It is a pleasure that I cannot do without when accompanying the Santos de Cartier every day. In fact, I have long been fond of this collection and have always been fascinated to see its continuous development. The new versions, especially with black dials and titanium, exude a strong, masculine energy. I am impressed by the way Cartier continues to experiment with materials and harness the industrial spirit in its designs. This is a clear testament to the Maison’s strong creativity.
What does time mean to you in life and work?
Sebastian Stan: Time is one of those things we can’t control, and that’s why it’s so precious. In my career, I’ve always believed that timing is key, from choosing roles, waiting for the right project, to learning to be patient with the whole process. In life, I try to live fully in every moment, and my watch is a reminder to appreciate that value every day