Thirteen year-old Marta has recently moved back to southern Italy with her mother and older sister and struggles to find her place, restlessly testing the boundaries of an unfamiliar city and the catechism of the Catholic church.
The film as a whole is a rather gloomy watch, and its slight story arc leaves it feeling like a skilled but overextended short.
With echoes of the Dardennes and Lucrecia Martel, Corpo Celeste’s acute sense of place, feel for adolescent confusion and miraculous resolution suggest that Rohrwacher is a talent to watch.
Quietly compelling, the cerebral slice of social realism is well worth hunting down.
Though beautifully shot and with a lovely performance from Vianello, the subtlety is overdone, leaving the film to meander for long stretches.
An accomplished debut.
Alice Rohrwacher's film is a deeply strange meditation on faith and identity.
There are moments that suggest the director might do something better next time.
Alice Rohrwacher
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Monday April 2, 2012, until Thursday April 5, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
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