Daniel wants to become a Catholic priest after undergoing a spiritual awakening in the juvenile detention centre where he was serving time. However, his criminal record prevents him from joining a seminary. After his release from the detention centre, he goes to work at a sawmill in a remote town. Circumstances offer him a chance to don the collar and persona of a priest. The ailing local vicar of the town seeks his help to run the parish while he is away for treatment.
While Daniel is not exactly a con artist, it hardly takes any effort for him to put on a show and pretend to be a priest. He wins over most of the people in the town who have been struck by a recent tragedy. However, his past catches up with him sooner than he expects.
Directed by Jan Komasa, the movie, which was screened at several festivals including the Venice Film Festival, and was the Polish entry for the best international film at the 2019 Oscars, is said to have been inspired by true events, however far-fetched they may seem. A tale of grief, loss and redemption, Corpus Christi is an intriguing watch, despite a few over-dramatic moments in the third act.