Jan Komasa’s Corpus Christi, which screened at the 2019 Toronto Film Fest, was selected by Poland to be its official entry in the Best International Feature Film Oscar.
The film, which world premiered as part of Venice Days, follows 20-year-old Daniel, who experiences a spiritual transformation while living in a youth detention center. He wants to become a priest, but this is impossible because of his criminal record.
Directed by Jan Komasa and written by Mateusz Pacewicz, the Polish drama Corpus Christi world-premiered at the 2019 Venice Film Fest, in the Venice Days section.
At Venice Days, the film won the Europa Cinemas Label Award and the Edipo Re Inclusion Award.
It was also selected as the Polish entry for the 2020 Best International Feature Oscar, making one of the five final nominations.
Inspired by real events, he tale centers on Daniel, a man who goes through spiritual awakening while serving his sentence in a youth detention center for second degree murder. His criminal background prevents him from becoming a priest once he is released.
When he is sent to work at a carpenter’s workshop in a small town, on arrival he dresses up as a priest and accidentally takes over the parish. The arrival of the young, charismatic “preacher” is an opportunity for the community to begin the healing process after a tragedy that happened there.
After leaving the detention center, he is mistakenly perceived as a priest and consequently pretends to be a priest, beginning to provide sacramental ministry in a small parish.
Cast
Bartosz Bielenia as Daniel
Aleksandra Konieczna as Lidia the sexton
Eliza Rycembel as Marta
Leszek Lichota as the Mayor
Łukasz Simlat as Father Tomasz
Tomasz Ziętek as Pinczer
Barbara Kurzaj as the Widow
The film is produced by Leszek Bodzak and Aneta Hickinbotham for Aurum Film. The co-producers are Canal Plus Polska, Walter Film Studio, Podkarpackie Film Commission and Les Contes Modernes.
The Polish Film Institute and CNC provided support.
New Europe Film Sales is handling world rights.
