"That's the overpase, we arrived." " Let's wait here?" " Da." " Are you sure?" " I'd say so." "Now what we do?" "Let's pray." "Inthecomingelection vote Beniamino Spano, the force of the future..." "Inthecomingelection vote Beniamino Spano!" "VoteBeniaminoSpano!" "Theforceof thefuture!" " Hi, Daddy." "Daddy'slittlegirl,hi!" "Debby, aren't you cold?" "Here's your jacket." "Comeandgetyourjacket." "Come here, sweetheart." "Whereareyougoing?" "Marta!" "Come on." "Putitdown,he'lltell uswhen." "Girls, stay in line." "Santa!" "EverythingOK?" " Long live Mary!" "They'll drive me crazy." "Debby, you're here!" "I want you to meet my nieces, they're back from Switzerland." " Did you know that?" " No." " Come on!" "We're a little messy, we walked all night!" " You did the night pilgrimage?" " Da." "Rosa and Alfredo, her boyfriend." "He's from here." "A pleasure, Santa." " How beautiful!" " And the younger one, Marta." "Where is she?" " Marta!" " Here she is." "Hi, beautiful." " How old are you?" " Nearly .13" "Really?" "You'd never guess." "You know, with the kids your age that I teach..." "Santa,comehereaminute!" " Excuse me." "The loudspeaker's not working." " It worked a moment ago." " And now it's not." " I wanted to tell you it doesn't work sometimes." " Let's get things going!" " Reverende, could we spread a tarpaulin in case it rains?" " OK, spread a tarpaulin." "Quick, a tarpaulin." "Let's cover the Virgin." "Testing, testing." "It's working." "Dear brother and sisters, your attention please." "We're gathered here, like every year, to renew our faith  and the love four our community." "Thisyearis special,though-." "Bishop Giorgio will take part in our procession." "I here that His Excellency's car is about to arrive, let's wait for him in silence and welcome him  with warmth and joy, our community is capable of showing." "Hereitis !" "(Rosa)It'san order!" "Openit!" "Marta!" "Letmein !" "Marta!" " What time is it?" " Relax, your mother's sleeping!" "You're uglier than before." "Welcome." " Hello." " You're late." "They're waiting for you." "Do you know where to go?" "I'll show you." "You can get through the rear door too  but I suggest you come this way to say hello to Jesus first of all." "WhoinventedtheChurch?" "The Pope and priests, non-Europeans, the people of God or the plant world?" "Come on, the p..." "The p..." " Sara." " The p..." "The p..." " The Pope and priests" " Are you sure, is this your final answer?" " That's my final answer." " Tell her, Anna." "The people of God." "Good!" "Kids,moreenergy!" "More energy!" "What'sthenameofLazarus'sister who listens to Jesus attentively?" "Mary,Martha,SabrinaorJessica?" "Want to answer, my dear Marta?" "Don't be scare, listen..." "Mary, Martha, Sabrina or Jessica?" "Come on, a name you know very well." "Martha?" "Mary, the good sister is Mary, tell her!" "Go and sit down." "Did you go to catechism where you lived before?" "Don't sit down here." "Sit here, next to Anna who's good." "What did they teach you there?" "Did you take tests?" "CanI goto thetoilet?" "No." "So, we were saying that Confirmation  confirms, meaning it's the final confirmation of Christian values." "It'sguarantee,acertainty." "Without Confirmation the doors to heaven are closed and marriage too." "After a short reading you'll understand bearer." "You need to learn this by heart, it's formula of the Holy Ghost." "Natale, stop clowning around!" "Now pay attention and listen to what Marco reads to us." "Marco, on you go." ""Youaregrowingand it's an amazing experience for you."" ""Howmanynewthingseach day: "" ""yourvoicechanges, your body transforms."" "Ittransforms." " It transforms!" ""You feel useless, bored, depressed,"" ""you don't know your place in the world."" " "But we know, the Church is the answer you're looking for."" " The Church!" ""Feeling the Holy Ghost is like wearing wonderful sunglasses,"" ""that allow you to see things in a different way."" ""It is through the Holy Ghost that you must see the world."" " See the world!" " See the world!" "It'shardto feelathome ." "Howlongwereyou inSwitzerland, ten or eleven years?" "Ten years." "Can you pass me your plates?" "Take it off, you'll stain it with sauce!" "Leavemealone!" "Holy Mother, I can't get that dress off her." "You know kids, they like to dress up." "She'snoteating?" " Tell her, she won't listen to me." " Voila!" " Stuffed calamari!" " Thanks, Aunt!" " I don't know if they're good." " You always say that!" "It's from the ocean." " I'm not buying Mediterranean fish any more" " Why?" "Youneverknowwhatyou'reeating." "With all the corpses in the sea..." "Nino's cousin in the navy told us." "All the bodies they find!" "They're illegal immigrants." "They'reMoroccans." "Whatshouldthefisheat?" "Exactly." "It'sbesttobuyocean fish." " Come on!" " No!" "That's enough gloom." "A toast." "It may be thanks to God, or maybe to the sea, a toast I make, to these calamari!" "Cheers!" "To the new house!" " Me too!" " Only for the toast?" "Just a drop." " How did you do them?" " Breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic..." "Is Mum your bin?" " Mum likes calamari." " Then take them from the pan." " Don't eat her leftovers." " I didn't touch it." "Louder,letus here!" "Excellent,Debby!" "Wonderful!" " You should have seen her in church, fantastic!" " Debby, what's the church one like?" "Hallelujah." "Hallelujah." "Hallelujah!" "Hallelujah.!" "Good!" "CometoDaddy!" " Just a drop." "IsourMarthareadyforConfirmation?" "Yes, she was already attending Sunday school in Switzerland." "Here she's just started catechism, Father Mario insisted." "He was right to insist!" "It's a way to make friends too." " You do it now and then forget about it." "Cake!" "Whata beautifulcake!" " Thanks." " Happy Birthday, Rosetta dear." "DidMartamakeit?" "Yes,byherself." "Blow?" " Greetings!" "Greetings!" " Thanks." " Who wants some?" " Me!" " No." " You, Uncle?" "Nothanks,I'mreallyfull ." " I'm stuffed too." "Enough!" "Let's taste it!" "Mm!" "Delicious!" "You don't know what you're missing!" "Delicious!" "Ijusteatand eat and leavenoroomfordesert!" " Is that my bra?" "Rosa,notnow..." " If she takes my stuff, she has to tell me!" "Don't argue, it's your birthday." " What's she need a bra for?" "Look at her!" "She's a child Stop!" "She runs off!" "Where's she going?" "She doesn't accept criticism." " It's easy just to run off!" "Enough!" ""Holy Ghost, in times of trouble I seek you and call you."" ""Eli, eli, lema sabachthani."" ""Like water flowing from the font of the sea," ""I entrust myself to you." ""Free me from the temptations of the world," ""give me wisdom, intellect, counsel, fortitude, ...knowledge, mercy, fear of God." ""Holy Ghost, in times of trouble I seek you and call you." ""Eli, eli, lema, sabachthani.." ""Give me..." ""wisdom, intellect," ""counsel, fortitude," ""knowledge." ""Fear of God."" " Is he completely naked?" "Yes." " Andhowbig ?" "Life-size?" " Yes, yes..." " Even down there?" "Children, you don't understand," "Jesus' body is different from ours, it is a spiritual body, heavenly, holy." " Can I go to the toilet?" " Jasmine, listen to me." "It's important." "It's a figurative crucifix, meaning you see the whole figure of Jesus." " When will they bring it?" " The day of Confirmation." "Ona donkey!" "It's Father Mario's idea, our reverend parish priest." "He wants to organize a grandiose ceremony for when this gift is unveiled." "I'm tuning into God." "He's the right frequency..." "I'm tuning..." " Have you seen Ignazio?" " No, sorry." " Thank you." " Father Mario, excuse me!" "Would you like to hear the children's Confirmation song?" " Yes, OK." " Thank you." "Children,keepthetempo!" "I'm tuning into God." "He's the right frequency." "I'm tuning into God." "He's a goal for me." "I want to choose Jesus." "I want to choose Jesus." "I want to choose Jesus." "I listen to His voice." "I listen to His command." "He teaches me so much." "He teaches me what I'm worth." "I want to choose Jesus." "I want to choose Jesus." "Ifoundsomething!" "March elections are, for Calabria, a testing ground..." "What treatment!" " Go to bed, Mum." " No, I'm fine here." "I dreamed my teeth were falling out." "Bad sign, right?" "Fairly." "Come here." "Are you Confirmation classmates nice?" " Normal." " That's good." " What?" " That they're not abnormal." " What do you do?" " We sing." " Let me here." " I don't remember." "Come on, a little bit!" " No, come on..." " Are you embarrassed?" "You're embarrassed." "Come on, a little bit for your Mum who has to go to work." "OK, but close your eyes." "Really close them!" "I want to choose Jesus!" "I want to choose..." " Oh, Gad!" "Whyareyousoselfish?" "LetMumsleep." " You sleep at night, don't you?" " Rosetta, I can defend myself." "That'snottrue, you don't realize she's devouring all your energy." "She'ssuckingallyou haveleft inside!" "Whatareyousaying?" "These are your Confirmation clothes, they're Alfri's sister's, they have to be returned intact." "You're welcome!" " Rita, where've you been?" " Sorry, the girls..." "It's OK now." "The dough's getting over-risen!" "Help him out." "It was Jesus' very hands  that revealed his holiness to people." "Placing His hands, the Savior performed His first miracles, like this..." "Has she frozen?" "We too can experience this energy of faith  that issues from our hands." "And we'll do it with a game called" ""The dance of the man born blind."" " Who can say who he was?" "Me!" "Me !" "Anna?" " The man born blind was a man who'd never seen, so Jesus Christ gave him sight." "Good." "Howdidhe to that,Jasmine?" "Ihaven'tclue!" "Cinzia?" " With His hands?" "Hishands." "How,Sara?" " He put them on his face." "I'll explain what He did exactly." "Jesus used spit, saliva on His hands  and then He placed them on the man born blind." "Wait, I remember one." "Which?" "Jesus, take me in Your hands tonight, watch over me till morning light" " Doesn't count, it's not a prayer." "Whatisit ?" "A phrase." "They remember every prayer that exists:" "the Credo for the Agonizing, the Credo for the Dying, the Credo for the Suffering..." " How wonderful!" "Mum?" "Get under." " Yes?" "Rest,don'tgetover-tired." "I'mgoingto Alfri's." " I'm a sufferer..." " Come on, stop!" "Come on, stop!" "Come on, She might come back!" "Let's sleep." " I pray for the moribund..." "That's enough, real rest now." "Crisps, pastries, cookies, crackers... drinks are missing." "If we have to buy drinks, expenses increase, don't they?" "FatherMario?" " What?" "Sorry if I interrupt this idyll of drinks and crackers." "We're worse than kids!" "All they think of is clothes." " Who comes back after Confirmation?" " Grown-ups." "The church is always full." "Of course, there aren't many youngsters." "But we're always here." "Ifthesekidsget toConfirmation, it'snosmallthing." "... They have to study, grow..." " Grow, that's the right word!" " I didn't mean anything." " The church has become a place  for toddlers, women, old ladies, people who have nothing to do." " I think you're a pessimist." " Sorry, maybe I didn't express myself very well." "Let's look around and see what the world offers today:" "Uncertainty, instability." "TheChurchhastobecome a protagonist again, ithasto propose extraordinary events, ... like ours, a new Confirmation, renewed." "Andthecrucifixwillbe the gift for our community." " It's a figurative crucifix." " Right, we have to get this crucifix  before the Bishop comes." "Sundaymorning." " Is that time enough?" " I can't before that." " He can't before that." "At 3 Confirmation, Holy Mass and presentation of the crucifix..." " Cristiano, come here." " At 5, dance of the little virgins..." "They need good beating!" "Kids have to obey." "Obey in the name of what?" "Calm down." "I'll be right back." "Where's he getting this figurative crucifix?" "It's in an abandoned church in Father Mario's town." " What's this exercise called!" " "Lining up for God"." "When would it be?" "For Confirmation, excellent." "No, I'm sorry, I can't before that." "70,allreliablepeople, don'tworry." "Abouttheotherthing, tell His Excellency I fell ready... and I could give much more if I were transferred." " Hear that?" " What?" " They're transferring him." " What's that mean?" " He just said so, he wants to have a bigger church." " Why?" "In a more important church... he might be made bishop." "Goodforhiscareer, even if he doesn't pray well." ""Now, Master, let your servant go in peace, according to you word."" ""For my eyes..."" ""... have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,"" ""a light for revelation to the Gentiles..."" ""...and glory for your people in Israel."" ""In waking waking save us, in sleep abandon us not..."" "I brought the next few day's meals." " Is it true you'll be transferred?" "Iwish!" "What do you mean "I wish"?" "And me?" "Even if they transferee me, I'll never forget the community." "Besides, you should be glad, I'd be offered great responsibility." "Iknowthat." "But who knows who they'll send in your place." "Maybe some foreign priest." "It's late, they're waiting for you at home." "No." "I broughtsheets, I'll go and change the bed." " Will you be eating?" " No, thanks." "Look!" "It'llfallon yourhead." " Let's go to the beach." "Mm?" " I wish I could!" " But you said?" " Come on, please?" " On foot?" "Yes." " No." " No." "Comeon!" "Goodevening." "Goodevening." "Therent!" "May I?" " Our Confirmation girl!" " Here I am." "Excuse me, it's untidy." "You're eating, I'll come buy later?" "No, no problem, our schedule's all out of kilter." " Go ahead." " Thank you." "Thisistherent." " Everything all right?" "Yes." " How's work?" "Fine." "Atleastit 'sajob ." "Ifitweren'tfor the earlystart, it'd be perfect." "Every job has its drawbacks." "Mine's a job too, it's just that my task is much greater." "Ihaveto protectyou   act in the parishioners' interest." "That's why I need to know if I can count on you, on your family." "This isn't a god period, there are so many bad types around." " The elections!" " Of course." " What can I do?" " You should put a signature her, name and surname." " Name:" "Ventura." "Yes." "Ventura Rita." "Here you go." " Here?" " Yes." "Yourotherdaughter?" " Rosa?" "(Isshe18 ?" " Yes, just." "Rosetta!" "Whatisit ?" "Comehere !" "Whatisit ?" "I have to study." "Nameandsurname." "You'll be voting at the primary school in Via Manzoni, voting station B." "I think so." "This is the candidate to vote for." "For you, too." "SignoraAgata,everythingall right?" "Yes,pleasecomein." "Didyouresolvethatproblem?" "Yes." "Sara,startfromfurtherback ." "Farenough,comeforward." "Sara,standup straight.." "You'regoingtowardsGod !" "Kids..." "Confirmation is your spiritual battle, you are now soldiers of Christ." "Youalllooklikemummies!" "Comeon,comeforward!" "Stop, the formula." "HolyGhost,Ientrustmyselftoyou ." "Eli,eli..." " Eli, eli, lema sabachthani." " Good girl." "What's it mean?" "They're God's words, Marta." " But what do they mean?" " It's not the time." "Sara, continue." "Ientrustmyselftoyoulikewater flowing from the font of the sea." "Free me of every sin, forgive me and give me..." "Energy,Sara!" "Energy!" "Think of Rambo, do you know him?" "Come on!" "Continue." "Acat!" "Flavia, a cat's got in." "Children,catchit !" "Natale!" "Good,Marta." "Catchit!" "Likethat." "No, kids..." "Miss Marta Ventura, come with me." "The formula." "Holy Ghost, in times of trouble I seek you." "Give me the fear of God..." " Do you believe in God  the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible?" "I so believe." "Do you believe in the Holy Ghost, which is the Lord and gives life, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body  and the life everlasting?" "I so believe!" "I so believe!" "This is our faith, the faith of our church  and we glory to profess it in Jesus Christ our Lord." "Amen!" "At this point, the bishop will mark you with a cross  and give you a symbolic slap, like this!" "WhenI growup Iwanttobe asaint,  so everyone will give me gifts." "Want a gift?" "I'll give you my hair." " Cut it." " I don't know how." "Try." "Cut it." "Cut it." "Then you can attach it to yours." "I can't do it." "Here." " How do I attach it?" " You've got your dress all dirty, look!" "Where did you get this?" "I don't want to see." "What have you done?" "Show-off." "Let'sgoto thehairdresser's." "No." "Shestayslikethat ." "Shewantsto be noticed." "Comeon,bothofyou." " What did you do?" "Debby,let'sgo !" "Maybe I'd better not take Confirmation." "Don't add more problems, Marta, pleas." "Sit up." "You were right to cut it." "It'll grow out stronger." "After Confirmation we'll go to the beach." "Beautiful." "Like a bride!" "Your hair to..." "Is it a custom in your country?" "Thebigdayishere , everythinghasto be perfect." "You, go and hang this in the hall." "You, take care of the tables." "You, spread the rug and take care of the stage." "You, go to the storage room and get the decorations." "Come on, dear." "Go." " No." "Undertheredveil?" "No,maybeunderthere." "Movestuff." "Whathaveyoufound?" "Oh,yuck!" " I want that!" "Comeon!" "Yuck!" "They'recute." "Whatdowedo withthem?" " Let's take them home." "Noway,we havetodrownthem!" "My grandpa put them in bags and boiled them." "We'll boil you, not the cats!" "Put them down, you'll hurt them." "What's going on?" "Don't touch them, they carry disease." "Come on, out." "What disease?" "Allsorts!" "Allofyou, out!" "You too, don't touch them, come out of here." "Gennaro, call Ignazio for me, please!" "Ignazio!" "Come!" "What are you doing here?" "This leads nowhere." "Marta,isn'tthatright?" "Iseverythingallright?" "Whatareyoudoinghere ?" "You should be getting ready." "Entryway of the..." "Yes, Marta." "Think about it." " How did you get here?" " I walked." "Walked." "Santa?" "Noone..." "Hermother'smobilenumber?" "Isee." "Allright." " Get in the car." " No, thanks." "I'll go on alone." " Get in the car!" " I was going home." "No one's in." "Stop." "Canyoutellmewhat youweredoing?" " Taking a walk." "Taking a walk." "On the motorway?" "Anyway,I reallyneedahand ." " Where are we going?" "Avillagecloseby." "The village I was born in." "We're going to get the crucifix." "We're on a mission." "Waitforme in thecar ." "Yourparticipationshowsthe faith inourcommunity.." "Thankyou." "LongliveFatherMario!" "Let's start over, music!" "For the signatures, over here." " There's only a handful of them." " There's flu around." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Do you understand me when I talk?" "If I tell you to wait in the car, there's a reason." "Hello?" "Yes, she's with me." "WhatshouldIhavedone ?" "Golooking?" " Eli, eli, lema sabachthani." " Yes, I know." "I won't get tired." "Eli,eli,lema,sabachthani." " Keep me informed." " Like something to eat?" " No, thanks." "Iwasexpectingmorepeople." "I'mjustherefor signatures." " Sure." "A sweet for the little girl?" " A nice bass?" " 15 minutes, no more." "Get it ready." " Signora Angela..." " Welcome." "I don't want to disturb you, but I'd like a favor." "Pray for my sister, she has a disease that won't go." "I'm praying so hard." "If you could pray for her too?" " Of course." " This is her picture." " Her name's Caterina." " Mum.?" " Just a minute..." " Give her a kiss." " Caterina." " I'll pray for your sister." " Thank you, Father Mario." "Excuseher,that'sjusthowsheis ." "But she cooks great." "I know." " You're not eating?" " I don't eat fish." "Too bad." "Know how much calcium it contains?" "No, stay right here." "Marta, how did you get dirty?" "Miss?" " Occupied." "Iseverythingallright?" "Takethis." "It'sthefirsttime,huh?" "It'sa goodthing, even though it seems bad." "I need the toilet." "You can go where you want, there's not soul here." "OK?" "I'll wait for you in the church." "What are you doing?" "Leave him!" "Ididn'trecognizeyou ." "Idon'tseeverywell thesedays." "I'm taking it away, to warmth, safety." "Have you seen the state you've let it get into?" "Hello?" " How are you?" "Fine." " Wait, where are you going?" " I'm late, I need to let them know." "Hello,Santa?" "Are you a priest?" "Yes." " You study like priests do?" "Yes." "What does, "eli, eli, lema sabachthani" mean?" ""Eli, eli..."" "It's a cry, it's Jesus crying out..." ""My God, why have you forsaken me?"" " Why is he crying out?" " Because he's angry." "How do you imagine him?" " Good." " Smiling?" "Yes." " With blue eyes?" "Ready to hug you?" " Yes." " But he's angry, furious." "He's alone, running from one place to another." "Everywhere they ask him for healing, miracles  and he runs to them all." "With ignorant disciples around him." "... who don't understand a thing, and always ask him for explanations." "They don't have a crumb of imagination." "And they're scandalized." "Read." ""When his family heard this, they went out to restrain him..."" ""... for they said:" "He is out of his mind."" " He's here." " Who?" " The Bishop." "Now what do we do?" "He shouldn't have waited till the last minute to get that crucifix." " He had other business." " So what are we supposed to do?" "We look like a disorganized parish, just making it up as we go along." " I'd say..." " Let's start with the dance." "Marta, let's go, come on!" "Give me a hand." " Hello." " Hello, dear." " This is my mother." " Hello, signora." " Good morning." " A pleasure, Santa." " Marta?" "Didn't she tell you?" "Father Mario chose her for a very important thing, they've gone together to get the new crucifix." "When?" "She didn't tell me anything." "I don't know." "I'm sorry." "Pleas, have on." "Wouldn't you like to join us?" "There's the dance of the little virgins.... ... we've organized lots of nice things." "I'll go then, duty calls." "May I ask a question?" "Where exactly will Father Mario be transferred?" "Why this bizarre question?" "Since there's a certain degree of familiarity between us, he told me he might be transferred to a more famous parish." "Signora, who are you?" "Santa!" " Yes,butwho are you  for our Holy Mother Church?" "What do you represent?" " His Excellency would like a handkerchief." " I'll see to it right away." "After Confirmation, what else do we do?" "Nothing, we go into church, that's all." " Do you read the Gospel?" " Every day, at Mass." "You know what they said about Jesus?" " What did they say?" " He was mad." "Nonsense!" "Yes - angry, furious." " Can I eat them?" " Yes." " One piece." "Theselonghair!" "I'm sorry, it's all ready." "So, have you decided?" "Will you transfer or stay with us?" "Where could I go?" "There's a stain." "Everything's ready." "It hurts ..." "I bit myself." " What have you done?" " I bit myself." " I was curious to see that crucifix." " You know what happened?" "That little girl Marta cut the ropes and the crucifix fell." "Don't badmouth my sister." "Mybrothersandsisters, first of all I apologize to the whole community." "Todayourchildrengrowup." "Thanks to our Bishop Giorgio, who... with his presence..." "Want to see a miracle?" "Look." "It's still alive."