CORPUS CHRISTI
Poland, 2019, 115 minutes, Colour.
Bartosz Bielenia, Aleksandra Konieczna, Eliza Rycembel.
Directed by Jan Komasa.
Corpus Christi, the Latin for the body of Christ, has found a place in the English language, a city in Texas, a religious celebration, a reference to the celebration of the Eucharist. It is an apt title for this quite intriguing story of a Polish parish and the young priest, Daniel (Bartosz Bielenia) who serves some time ministering and having quite an effect on the parishioners.
But, we know right from the beginning, that he is not a priest.
There is a certain curiosity in wanting to see this film because it was one of the five nominees for the 2019 Oscars category of Best International Film (won by Korea’s Parasite). It seems a strange selection for the award and seems even stranger that it finished in the top nominees.
It will be of particular interest to Catholic audiences who might be intrigued as to the situation, the character of the young man, how he manages in the parish and the impact that he has on people. On the other hand, some Catholic audiences might be repelled at his character, his presumption in taking on the role of parish priest, think that it is somewhat sacrilegious. But, it is interesting, especially in terms of so much of the dialogue where everybody says “Blessed be God� in their frequent greetings to one another, and some homily reflections on the presence of God everywhere, especially in strange situations and circumstances.
Daniel has committed some violent crimes when young and is imprisoned in a juvenile detention centre, a Catholic Centre, with priests on the staff, including a chaplain. Daniel discusses a desire to enter a seminary with the chaplain but is told that with his convictions he has no chance. And, as we see some of the behaviour of the inmates, cocaine, drinking, sexual activity, some brutality towards each other, we are not surprised. However, it is Daniel who prepares the altar for Mass, does the serving, intones the hymn singing.
Sent on parole to a sawmill in a remote town, he wants to avoid the mill, goes into the church, encounters a young woman, says he is a priest and shows her the black shirt and clerical collar that he has taken from the institution.
He meets the local parish priest, an elderly and sick man who is taken to hospital – and the people ask Daniel to hear the confessions, say Mass.
One of the features of this film is that it is not anticlerical. It takes for granted the church, Mass, sacraments, anointing of the sick, funerals, pastoral care of people, and it is accurate and respectful in most of its details.
One of the main questions, of course, is what is the reality of priesthood. Daniel has some non-exemplary moments, especially with the young girl in the parish, and is pressurised by one of his fellow inmates to hand over the parish collection. But, Daniel is imbued with a sense of reverence, all kinds of moving words and sentiments coming from him as homily, as encouragement for behaviour, his challenging the parishioners to overcome quite some bigotry concerning an accident in which a number of the teenagers from the village were killed. In fact, with some contemporary and eyebrow-raising detail, there is the temptation to remember the novel by Georges Bernanos and Robert Bresson’s film, Diary of a Country Priest.
Daniel is very young, his life ahead of him, and we wonder what impact this priestly episode will have on his future. But, for audiences who have responded favourably to the film, there is much to consider about God, prayer, sin and guilt, forgiveness, the role of the priest in the church. (It is interesting to speculate what would happen in a sequel…)
1. The title? The meanings? Catholic sensibility? Polish sensibility? The body of Christ? The liturgical celebration? In a contemporary setting?
2. The Oscar nomination? Polish awards? Tradition of films about clergy, Kler? The setting, contemporary, the institution for juvenile offenders, their workplace, the Chapel, life in the institution? Train travel? The village, the church, the countryside, the presbytery and houses, the roads? The musical score and the hymns?
3. The credibility of the plot, in general, the impersonating priest? Possible in Poland? A film about priests and their task, their ministry? Church organisation and the bishop? Daniel and his preparation, his behaviour as a priest? Believed?
4. Daniel, his age, background of crime? Interest in the Institute, the woodwork, turning his back on the abuse of the fellow prisoner, his helping him? In church, the priest, the discussion about going to the seminary, exclusion because of his convictions? Serving the Mass, intoning the hymns? His parole, the plan to go to the sawmill? On the train, the policeman seeing him and criticising him? Life in the institution – and the scenes of sexual encounter, cocaine, drinking, the students? Is wearing the clerical shirt, looking in the mirror?
5. His arrival, going to the church, the encounter with Eliza? Meeting Lydia? Meeting the parish priest, the discussions, his collapse and illness? Daniel and his staying, taking the collection, going to the supermarket? The priest in hospital?
6. Daniel asked to hear the confessions, the mother, criticising her son because of smoking, her sinfulness, his penance, the harsher cigarettes? An outing?
7. The effect, his decision to stay, request to celebrate Mass? His imitating the chaplain at the institution, his words, the question about going to church, God outside and everywhere? Prayer is not mechanical? The organ playing, the Marion picture exposed? The effect on him?
8. The background of the accident, the young people killed, the shrine in the road, the photos, the gatherings? The hostility towards the driver, towards his widow? The story, the scenes of the young people taking cocaine? The threats of the driver against them? The refusal to have the funeral in the town? The mayor and his visit to Daniel, wanting a deal? The widow and the box of hostile letters? Daniel and is collecting the toys and the mementos from the family? The discussion about the funeral, the payment? The fact of the funeral, the hostile mother joining the funeral procession? The effect on Daniel?
9. Lydia, looking out to the church, her severity, the death of her son? Control, the daughter and rebellion? A letter amongst the cash and letters? The doubts at the end?
10. The mayor, the deal with Daniel, getting him to bless the new wing, the feast of Corpus Christie? Daniela Greene, his kneeling on the ground, his prayer for denunciation?
11. Eliza, with the group, the meetings and discussions, Danielle at home with the young people? Eliza, the living in the presbytery, the sexual encounter? The request for Daniel’s ID and Eliza saying it was in the laundry? The arrival of his fellow inmates from the juvenile centre, confession, the blackmail, wanting the money?
12. The scene of Daniel anointing the elderly woman?
13. The arrival of the chaplain, his going to action, the arguments, offering to celebrate the Mass, Daniel stripping, saying that he was a sinner, leaving?
14. His return to the institution, the brutal fight? His future?
