Corpo Celeste

Though at times heavy-handed in its imagery and slow-paced, Rohrwacher's debut feature is remarkably unadorned and touching, putting forth a realistic portrait of modern Italy at a time when the country faces economic hardship as well as cultural changes.

For those willing to overlook its few slips into heavy-handedness, "Corpo Celeste" tells a compelling story of a 12-year-old girl thrust into a strange new world.

"Corpo Celeste" often stumbles, along with its 12-year-old heroine, Marta (Yle Vianello).

Here we first see the way Rohrwacher combines aspects of neorealism with poeticism to create her unique cinematic fables.