Inspired by the non-fiction novels of Tatiana Niculescu Bran. Cristian Mungiu, Palme d’Or winner for his film, <4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days> (2009), returns with the story of two girls trapped in religion and tradition of Romania. An orphan girl living in Germany goes to back to Romania to bring her best friend from orphanage to Germany. However, people there who live by religious traditions are not friendly toward the girl from Germany and her friend also wishes to live as a nun. This film is based on a non-fiction that tells a story of a young woman who died during exorcism in a monastery in 2005. Mungiu’s adaptation gives life to the friendship of the two girls who try to overcome the oppression of tradition. And tensions arise from the juxtaposition of the girls and the people who are trapped in a religious tradition. This is not only a story of women but also of the young generation in conflict with tradition. Viewers are drawn into the story of <Beyond the Hills> that contrasts human efforts for change with the reality of our time. (LEE Sang-yong)