Corpo Celeste (2011)
Alice Rohrwacher's debut feature follows a restless teenager navigating faith, belonging, and the gap between ritual and belief in southern Italy.
Corpo Celeste - Movie Information
- Original Title: Corpo celeste
- Release Year: 2011
- Directed by: Alice Rohrwacher
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 1h 39m
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 20, 2011 (Italy - T), December 28, 2011 (France - TP)
- Alternative Titles: Heavenly Body (US), 천상의 몸 (KR), Für den Himmel bestimmt (DE)
- Production Companies: Tempesta, JBA Production, Amka Films
- Production Countries: France, Italy, Switzerland
Corpo Celeste - Plot
After growing up in Switzerland, 13-year-old Marta returns to a city in southern Italy with her mother and older sister. Independent and inquisitive, she joins a catechism class at a local church. However, the games and religious pop songs she encounters there do not nearly satisfy her interest in faith. Struggling to find her place, Marta pushes the boundaries of the class, the priest, and the church.
Corpo Celeste - Trailer
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Corpo Celeste - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Alice Rohrwacher
Main Cast
- Yle Vianello
- Pasqualina Scuncia
- Salvatore Cantalupo
- Anita Caprioli
- Renato Carpentieri
- Maria Trunfio
- Gianni Federico
- Maria Luisa De Crescenzo
- Mario Canino
- Monia Alfieri
Writers
- Alice Rohrwacher
Producers
- Carlo Cresto-Dina
- Jacques Bidou
- Marianne Dumoulin
- Giulia Fretta
- Tiziana Soudani
Corpo Celeste - FAQs
What is Corpo Celeste about?
Corpo Celeste follows Marta, a 13-year-old who returns to southern Italy after growing up in Switzerland. Curious and restless, she joins a catechism class but finds its shallow rituals unsatisfying. The film traces her quiet rebellion as she searches for something more genuine in faith, community, and her own identity.
Does Marta ever find her place in the church?
Not in any conventional sense. Marta's journey is less about belonging and more about honest questioning. She pushes against the performative side of parish life and finds a deeper, more personal connection to spirituality — one that exists outside the walls of the institution rather than within them.
Where can you stream Corpo Celeste?
You can stream Corpo Celeste on MUBI or through the MUBI Amazon Channel, both available as flat-rate subscriptions. It's a great fit for MUBI's curated selection of international art-house cinema.
Is Corpo Celeste Alice Rohrwacher's debut film?
Yes, Corpo Celeste is Alice Rohrwacher's feature directorial debut. She went on to earn international acclaim with Happy as Lazzaro and The Wonders. This first film already showcases her distinctive style — observational, tender, and deeply rooted in the textures of rural Italian life.
Who are the main actors in Corpo Celeste?
The film centers on Yle Vianello as Marta, delivering a remarkably naturalistic performance. She's supported by Salvatore Cantalupo as the pragmatic Don Mario, Renato Carpentieri as the more reflective Don Lorenzo, and Anita Caprioli as Marta's mother Rita.
How was Corpo Celeste received by critics?
Critics responded warmly to Corpo Celeste, praising its restrained direction and the authenticity of Yle Vianello's lead performance. Reviewers highlighted Rohrwacher's keen eye for social detail and her ability to explore institutional religion through a child's unfiltered perspective without resorting to easy judgments.
Where was Corpo Celeste filmed?
The film was shot in Reggio Calabria, a city in the toe of Italy's boot. Cinematographer Hélène Louvart captures its gritty, sun-bleached urban landscape with an intimate, almost documentary quality — making the setting feel like a character in its own right.
What are similar films to Corpo Celeste?
If Corpo Celeste resonated with you, try Small Body (2022) for another Italian coming-of-age story steeped in faith, or Father of My Children (2009) for a similarly quiet European drama. Fatima (2020) also explores religious devotion through a young protagonist's eyes.
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