Actress's Haunted Hotel Stay During Film Shoot

Renate Reinsve, celebrated for her role in "The Worst Person in the World," recently starred in Cristian Mungiu's "Fjord," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. The film centers on Lisbet, a Norwegian mother whose children are taken by state authorities due to accusations stemming from the family's Romanian Christian evangelism. Reinsve found Mungiu's distinctive directing style, characterized by distant camerawork and numerous takes, to be a significant challenge. She had to "strip away the emotion" and trust that audiences would understand Lisbet's plight through subtle gestures rather than overt emotional cues.

Filming took place in an isolated Norwegian village, where the cast and crew encountered a haunted hotel. Reinsve recounted persistent supernatural disturbances, including knocking on doors and ghostly apparitions, which contributed to a mystical and frightening atmosphere during the two-month shoot. Despite the spectral challenges and the demanding directorial process, Reinsve expressed that learning new methods, such as Mungiu's approach to building scenes through extensive takes, allowed for personal and professional transformation as an actress.

Reinsve also discussed her upcoming projects, including portraying feminist author Mary Wollstonecraft. She emphasized her preference for exploring diverse directing styles and complex characters, a path forged by her extensive theater background. "Fjord" itself has sparked significant debate internationally, fulfilling Mungiu's aim to provoke conversation and encourage shifting empathy among viewers regarding the film's controversial themes and characters.