Corpus Christi / Boże Ciało
Poland, France 116
Directed by Jan Komasa, drama, 116 min, eng subtitles, 16+
Written by Mateusz Pacewicz
With Bartosz Bielenia, Eliza Rycembel, Aleksandra Konieczna, Tomasz Ziętek, Leszek Lichota, Łukasz Simlat
Daniel, a young guy with a piercing gaze, is engrossed in his faith and rejoices in singing religious songs. As it happens, he is also serving a sentence in a gruesome juvenile correctional facility. Despite his grim past, Daniel's ultimate desire is be to become a priest after leaving the penitentiary. However, it is not permitted for former convicts to enter the seminary under Catholic law. When after his release Daniel arrives in a secluded village where he is supposed to work at a sawmill, his fate changes and he is given a chance to pursue his crazy plan, helping the villagers to heal their wounds after a recent tragedy.
Inspired by real-life events, the third feature by Jan Komasa (Suicide Room, Warsaw 44) is a moral story about the intricacies of faith and forgiveness, with a brilliant performance by Bartosz Bielenia. The film has freshly premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Awards:
Toronto IFF 2019 (Official Selection)
Venice IFF 2019 (Giornate degli Autori)
Poland's entry for the Oscars