"There is a prophet in his own country." The priest is transferred to another parish, to his homeland. Where he finds himself again with his family and former friends. But everything and everyone has changed a lot. The gray-haired father, who was beaten by demons on his ribs, abandons his mother to marry a woman half his age. The sister wants to have an abortion while the child's blessed father climbs mountains studying the rare birds that preoccupy his thoughts and feelings. A friend of his youth is in prison, accused of terrorism, and another is in deep depression. At mass in the temple is empty, people want to communicate with him on topics of interest that have nothing to do with spiritual life, and the only person interested in faith is an exalted neophyte, listen to the enthusiastic babbling of which is still a test.
At first glance, the film may seem simple, as if plotless narrative, a set of absurd and tragicomic situations, but this is not the case.
Giulio's father often sneers at the questions he is asked, frankly annoyed by their pettiness and insignificance. The film begins and ends with wedding scenes. A solemn and mysterious moment in which two people exchange vows before God and are full of aspirations to jointly build their new world. But between them are waned hopes, selfishness, betrayal and aimless existence and suicide.
It is noteworthy that in the picture there is only one, literally a second scene in which the priest prays. Not at the time of the Mass, but in person to God. But there is a wonderful episode of confession, not when Father Giulio receives it, but when he confesses to another priest. This is the key to understanding the film.
Before us is a drama about emotional burnout multiplied by a midlife crisis, presented in the genre of tragicomedy.
But, life is still beautiful, you just need to change the angle, for which you need to reboot, which is what the main character is going to do. With God!
Nice music and great performance by Nanni Moretti. But this is not a movie I would recommend to everyone.
8 out of 10