
“WarriorMonks”and“GuardianMothers”theycallthemselves,themartialartschampionswhoaremembersofanItaliansectlivingtogetherinamonastery.LedbyaKungFumaster,theyarelikeShaolinmonksbutwithaCatholictwist.Utterlydevotedtotheirfaith,theytrainconstantlysotheyareabletocombatevilinthenameoftheFather.DirectorValentinaPediciniwasgrantedaccesstoawayoflifedefinedbydiscipline,andtheresultingblack-and-whitefilmissurprisinglyintimate.<br/> Theshaven-headedwarriors(men,womenandchildren)rarelystepbeyondthewallsofthemonastery.Infact,we’realreadyhalfanhourintothefilmwhenthecameraentersdaylightforthefirsttime—andeventhentheacolytesremainonthemonasterygrounds.Thisclose-knitgrouphasreplaceditsmembers’ownfamilies.Theyarewarmandopentowardsoneanother,buttoughasnailswhenitcomestotraining.<br/> It’strulyastonishingthatPedicinihasmanagedtogetsoclosetosuchanisolatedsect.Thesepeoplehavenosecretsforeachotherorforthecamera.Everythingrevolvesaroundblinddevotion,andFaithinvitesustobepartofthat.