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DVD release: 2012
Distributed by: Film Movement
Dir. by Alice Rohrwacher
Starring: Yle Vianello, Anita Caprioli, Pasquilina Scuncia
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The Movie:
Corpo Celeste translates as either “celestial body†or “body of Heaven.†These two notions are heavily intertwined and invested in the heroine of the film, 13-year-old Marta (Vianello). Her family has recently returned to Italy from living in Switzerland and the time of this story is during Marta's upcoming confirmation.
Being blond-haired and blue-eyed she doesn't really fit in with her confirmation classmates to begin with. Add to that her introverted nature and sense of wonder or alternate sensibility to the world around her - as something that should be experienced - and she's quickly looked over and ignored. She does manage to draw the spiteful intention of her older sister and the tired but loving attention of her mother.
As Marta begins acting out a bit and questioning in her own way she draws the frustrated ire of her confirmation class teacher, Santa (Scuncia), as well as that of the parish priest. The priest is just tired of where he's at and his faith follows that, as he sleepily and dispassionately reads from his Bible while falling asleep at night in one scene. He and Santa, who's faith is baseless but has clearly just been repeatedly driven into her skull, represent a stagnant, lifeless, dying church. And yet it's through them (and a series of off-events) that Marta is able to encounter an old priest who gives her the only solid, honest and open theology she gets in the movie.
From there, Marta's transformation is clearly not along this well-trodden path that her classmates seem obliviously happy to conform to. Forced to travel with the bored priest she gets her first period on this trip while also single handedly ruining the priest's shaky hopes at career advancement. And, at the end, experiences her own baptism, walking through filthy water but arriving at a naturalistic and accepting world of peace and wonder.
Throughout the story Marta never lashes out at anyone else, letting their own thoughts and actions reproach each character in sad little short scenes. It's an important facet to her character, that the only reaction to the world around her is motivation for her to seek out and withdraw to a better, more positive place, one free of the homogenous conformity that would crush rather than enlighten her soul.
Audio/Video/Extras:
This DVD from Film Movement (Film 5, Year 10 entry) is presented in 16:9 widescreen which seriously upgrades the grainy quality to the cinematography here; although simultaneously it's a bit overwhelming since much of the film is shot handheld and in close-up on the actors. Viewing it on a bigger screen can make you a little nauseous if you have a sensitivity to that (like I do). Audio is served up in Italian only, in either 2.0 or 5.1 Dolby Digital and that's more than adequate for this very quiet, close-in film. English subtitles are the only option here as well.
The film's trailer and a very brief bio of the director are included, along with trailers for other Film Movement titles.
The short film included here comes from Germany. The Oscar-nominated Raju tells the story of a German couple in Calcutta to pick up their orphan child. But when that child runs off they soon discover that their seemingly good intentions are actually anything but. It's similar to Corpo Celeste in that they both share the examination of characters doing the right thing even when that's exceedingly difficult. This short is outstanding, directed by and starring Max Zahle.
The Final Word:
Balancing puberty with a faith crisis, Corpo Celeste builds a positive, affirming message of hope for all females who find themselves on the fringe of or at odds with society. .Choosing critique rather than abandonment the film seeks to provide a more reasonable, sensory, sincere approach for its coming-of-age story, providing a relatable path to realization rather than preaching an out-of-touch sermon.
