It’s a familiar story in some ways. A young priest enters a parish and stirs things up with his unorthodox approach. Except that Daniel is not actually a priest. He has served time in a juvenile detention centre for man-slaughter but while there has been convinced he is being called to the priesthood. He is told by a Chaplain, however, that his criminal background would be an insurmountable barrier.
On parole he is assigned to work in a sawmill in a small town. When he arrives his first stop is to the local church where he passes himself off as a priest. The parish priest believes him and while he leaves to undergo treatment for alcohol abuse leaves Daniel in charge.
This is a Polish language movie with English subtitles. The issue of fake priests is apparently not uncommon in Poland, the priesthood bringing as it does status spiritually and socially. Not surprisingly the film caused a great deal of controversy in Poland. But it is film we can all relate to. It explores the nature of faith in broken and vulnerable lives; the expectations placed on Christian leaders; the motives behind the aspiration to be a Christian leader; the effect of tragedy on a small community. It is the latter that leads to Daniel’s exposure as he takes an unpopular stance in relation to the man who caused the tragedy. He is returned to the detention centre where the brother of the man he killed is now an inmate. You can take it up from there if you feel inclined.
It is a bleak film in many ways and there are some scenes of brutal violence. Yet Daniel’s time as a ‘priest’ brought some good to the community even as the consequences of the imposture and his crime press on him and eventually overtake him. I had some difficulty with the final message but perhaps Daniel is showing us the tensions we all have to live with, the aspirations for good that are so often overshadowed by our moral and spiritual limitations. Daniel is a picture of ourselves albeit painted with broader and darker strokes.
I’m still thinking about the title: Corpus Christi - the body of Christ. Maybe it is pointing to the reality of the world where Jesus came and was one of us. He took on the body that was subject to limitation and pain, ‘descended into Hell’ as the Creed says, in order to redeem us and lead us towards the New Creation.
That’s my take on it. If you watch it and can take me froward let me know!
