GOD WILLING/SE DIO VUOLE

Italy, 2015, 87 Minutes, Colour.
Marco Giallini, Alessandro Gassman, Laura Morante, Ilaria Spada.
Directed by Eodardo Maria Falcone.

A surprising film about priesthood from Italy, Se Dio Vuole/God Willing reminds audiences of Italy’s growing secularisation, the inheritance of the Catholic tradition and rejection of it, and a low opinion of the priesthood.

A young man, Andrea, goes out frequently with a young man and when he asks his family for a meeting, they tend to expect that he will announce that he is gay. They psych themselves up for this, wanting to be broadminded, tolerant, prepared to embrace him. But, what he tells them is that he wants to be a priest. They are not ready for this at all, especially his rather arrogant surgeon father who cannot bring himself to contradict his son but will do anything to stop him becoming a priest.

His mother is more understanding. His sister, who seems to know practically nothing about Catholicism, gets a whim to learn more about it, praying the rosary, watching Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth, not wanting anyone to tell and spoil the ending for her.

The father invokes the aid of friends and investigators, following his son only to find that he has gone to a Bible session, conducted by Don Pietro, an enthusiastically vigorous performance by Alessandro Gassman. He has a full house of young listeners, explains the Gospels with great gusto and theatricality. The surgeon wants an investigation done on him, finds that Don Pietro has spent time in jail, for fraud, and suspects that he has brainwashed his son.

Don Pietro is a fine contemporary, pastoral priest. He admits his use of fraud, the time in jail, influenced by the prison chaplain, joining the seminary, concerned for all people in need, rebuilding a church that his mother used to attend, a sensible man in the 21st century ministry.

He has advised Andrea about the priesthood and puts himself out when the surgeon turns up at a session, pretends to be penniless and homeless, sets up his colleagues to confirm his down-and-out status in a rundown house to Don Pietro, but is found out when Don Pietro is visiting his actual home. Don Pietro asks him to do a month’s penance, working on the church with him, where they talk a great deal, go to a hill overlooking a lake which is the priest’s favourite place for reflection, the surgeon upset when Don Pietro has a motorbike accident and spends his time finishing the work on the church. He doesn’t necessarily become a believer – but his attitude towards priests changes, he is more understanding and respectful to his staff, to patients and his wife and daughter – and Don Pietro doesn’t tell him that he actually knew for some time that Andrea, after a retreat, had fallen in love and the priesthood was not for him.

Perhaps the film is saying that celibacy is an impediment for priesthood – and that the better priests are men who have had solid and mixed experiences and are ordained later in their lives.

1. The Italian setting, the religious traditions, Catholic traditions, the history of priests? Expectations, positive and negative? A secular Italy, atheist Italy? A film for 2015 and the status of priests at that time?

2. Rome, the mansion, hospital, surgery, meeting rooms, the Church to be repaired, streets, shops, the poor house? Students, demonstrations? The musical score?

3. Sympathy for the priesthood, discussions of God, prayer, social issues, priests effective despite the difficulties, the sincerity of priests, issues of celibacy, the late vocations? The priest bringing the Gospels alive, for younger people? References to Jesus, saying the rosary – and the trendy whims?

4. Tomasso and his story, certain in his attitudes, sardonic remarks, treatment of his staff, proud of his skills rather than any acknowledgement of working miracles? His attitude towards his wife, continually boorish behaviour, not listening to her? Bianca and putting her down, mocking her husband? Andrea, liking him, hoping for him to be a doctor in the future? The meals, talk, bringing the maid in on the family discussions?

5. Andrea, friendship with Rufio, family apprehension that he was gay, preparations for the talk, ready to accept his being gay, the silence at hearing that he wanted to be a priest? Preparations for tolerance, the hug – but still the difficulties in his wanting to be a priest?

6. Everybody reacting positively, favouring Andrea, but not Tomasso, his being unable to tell his son?

7. The discussions, consulting for advice, his following his son, the friend on the plans, the dossier,, the motorbike, Don Pietro and the Gospel explanations, the enthusiastic crowd?

8. Pietro, his theatrical presentation, bringing the Gospels alive, relevance? Cheerful, the reaction of the group??

9. Getting the dossier on Pietro, fraud, in jail, family background, the prison chaplain, his going into the seminary?

10. Tomasso, going to see Pietro, the awkwardness in conversation, Pietro busy with many people, Tomasso saying he was Mauro, with a bad memory, his
story, poverty, testing Pietro, Pietro getting the job, his assisting in the shop, slicing, customer demands, his giving up? The discussions, going to the church, seeing the man giving Pietro the money? Setting up the false house and address, his medical assistants, usually putting them down and thwarting ambition, getting them to help, the woman as his severe wife and acting the part, his son-in-law retarded, the owner of the house caught and being present? The visit, the performance, Pietro’s reaction?

11. Andrea going to the retreat, Bianca and her fervour, watching Jesus Of Nazareth and not knowing the ending?

12. Carla, the alienation from her husband, going to the maid’s room, going to speak to the students at school, urging protests, demonstrating, on the television, being bashed, in hospital, ignoring Tomasso?

13. Pietro visiting Andrea, Tomasso’s arrival, the truth? The penance, working with Pietro for one month, the hard work, the injury, his limping in hospital? Talking with Pietro, greater sharing, going to the special place overlooking the lake, listening to Pietro on Jesus’ agony in the garden?

14. Andrea, the girlfriend, Pietro knowing already, allowing Tomasso to be deceived?

15. The God talk?

16. Pietro, on the bike, the accident, in hospital, the crowd coming to support him?

17. Tomasso, leaving the operation to the experts, going back to the church, getting it ready, complete?

18. The film’s comment on vocation to the priesthood – but a reminder of the temptations of celibacy and the success of late vocations?

19. Serious, comic, but contributing to religious discussion?