Corpo Celeste (PG)

Here`s a mordantly funny coming-of-age movie that also serves as barbed allegation that the Catholic Church`s primary devotion is to worldly dominion. Back in her native place, Calabria after years in Switzerland, 13-year-old Marta casts a wary eye over all she surveys. Learning the catechism, she is not impressed by the perplexing jumble of Latin ritual and woeful stabs at youth credibility such as, `Seeing the Spirit is like wearing really cool sunglasses`. Catching on to the insecurity of her teacher or the jaded parish priest, Don Mario`s connivance in right-wing politics, she`s an irritant they could do without. Her stand-off comes to a head when she is obliged to accompany the priest on an expedition to retrieve a giant wooden Christ Crucified from a deconsecrated church. Distinct and strange as listless and as nettled by the absurdity of adult behavior as its teenage protagonist, this is an impressive, absorbing first film from 30-year-old Alice Rohrwacher.