Film Movement has acquired North American distribution rights to Alice Rohrwacher’s directorial debut “Corpo Celeste.” The Italian coming-of-age drama took part in this year’s Cannes Film Festival Director’s Fortnight and has since gone to play at the Karlovy Vary, Dubai, Munich and BFI London film festivals.
Here’s what it’s about according to Film Movement:
Having recently returned to her native Italy after living in Switzerland for 10 years, quiet but curious 13-year-old Marta is left to her own demise while her loving but worn-out mother toils away at an industrial bakery. Marta’s only source of socialization is the local church, where she is told to attend preparatory classes for her confirmation. But the doctrines of Roman Catholicism offer little in terms of life lessons or consolation, and she quickly sees through the hypocrisy of the priest, who cares more about status than about his constituents. Eventually, Marta forges her very own way of the cross, which turns out to have much less to do with God than with her own climb towards adulthood.
Full release below:
FILM MOVEMENT ACQUIRES ITALIAN DRAMA “CORPO CELESTE”
Cannes Director’s Fortnight Selection to be Distributed in all of North America
August 16th, 2011 (New York, NY) – Film Movement (www.filmmovement.com), the North American film distribution company that brings first-run, award-winning independent and foreign films to fans all across the country, announced today their acquisition of CORPO CELESTE for the United States and Canada. Alice Rohrwacher’s directorial debut is an enthralling Italian language coming of age drama set in the poor southern province of Calabria. CORPO CELESTE will enjoy a New York theatrical opening in Q1 of 2012, with a limited national roll-out to follow, as well as a day-and-date Cable Video on Demand premiere.
“The big payoffs arrive in a couple of small, understated moments or grace…thanks to Alice Rohrwacher’s restrained buildup and direction, they certainly feel well earned.”
– Boyd Van Hoeij, Variety
Synopsis of CORPO CELESTE:
Having recently returned to her native Italy after living in Switzerland for 10 years, quiet but curious 13-year-old Marta is left to her own demise while her loving but worn-out mother toils away at an industrial bakery. Marta’s only source of socialization is the local church, where she is told to attend preparatory classes for her confirmation. But the doctrines of Roman Catholicism offer little in terms of life lessons or consolation, and she quickly sees through the hypocrisy of the priest, who cares more about status than about his constituents. Eventually, Marta forges her very own way of the cross, which turns out to have much less to do with God than with her own climb towards adulthood.
Acclaim for CORPO CELESTE:
Official Selection – Cannes Film Festival Director’s Fortnight, Karlovy Vary Int’l Film Festival, Dubai Int’l Film Festival, Munich Int’l Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival…
The acquisition of CORPO CELESTE was negotiated by Film Movement’s President Adley Gartenstein and VP of Acquisitions and Distribution Rebeca Conget, and Catia Rossi of Rai Trade.
“Corpo Celeste is not only an intelligent and sensitive film in and of itself, but it marks the promise of a distinct and talented new voice in Italian cinema. We’re proud to be the North American distributors of Alice’s debut feature film, and already look forward to her next works,” says Film Movement’s VP of Acquisitions and Distribution Rebeca Conget.
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