Benedetta

2021

2h 11m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

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Drama

Romance

A 17th-century nun becomes entangled in a forbidden lesbian affair with a novice. But it is Benedetta's shocking religious visions that threaten to shake the Church to its core.

Directors

Paul Verhoeven

Writers

Judith C. Brown(book by)

Pascal Bonitzer(script consultant by)

Paul Verhoeven(screenplay by)

Stars

Virginie Efira

Charlotte Rampling

Daphné Patakia

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Top cast

Virginie Efira

Sister Benedetta Carlini

Sister Felicita

Bartolomea

Nuncio

Alfonso Cecchi

Sister Christina

Paolo Ricordati

Midea Carlini

Giuliano Carlini

Sister Jacopa

Sister Petra

Sister Juliana

Sister Roasanna

Young Benedetta

Christina enfant

Jésus-Christ

Doctor

Secretary

Directors

Paul Verhoeven

Writers

Judith C. Brown(book by)

Pascal Bonitzer(script consultant by)

Paul Verhoeven(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

After living in a nunnery in Pescia since her youth, "Benedetta" (Virginie Efira) has visions that lead her to believe that she is speaking directly to Jesus. A somewhat sceptical Mother Superior (Charlotte Rampling) and her fellow nun "Christina" (Louise Cevillotte) have doubts, but those are not shared by an all-too-willing clergy and soon the young woman is the new Abbess. Simultaneously, the nunnery takes in the young "Bartolomea" (Daphne Patakia) from a torrid and violent relationship with her father and the two women become fast friends - with benefits! When the erstwhile Abbess flees to seek the intervention of the Papal Nuncio (Lambert Wilson) the full power of the church now confronts "Benedetta" - is she really a conduit from their Saviour, or is she no more than a fraud with "bestial" tendencies? The film looks stunning, the attention to the detail is excellent and Paul Verhoeven manages to delicately weave a story that demonstrates just how naive and gullible folks were in the 17th century; how fearful they were of god - and more importantly, the church and he uses the symbolism of the stigmata and of the crown of thorns to illustrate successfully the profound nature of deeply-held attitudes held by a largely ignorant, superstitious, population - especially as the plague approaches their city. It is based in fact, so the ending has limited scope for jeopardy; but Efira is superb in the role as are Cevilotte and Rampling - whose position as the story develops becomes quite an intriguing tightrope act. Sex features prominently, but none of it is gratuitous or seamy - it seems perfectly natural until used as a means of torture (and not in any kinky way!). Was she a charlatan? I know what I think...

Geronimo196723 Apr, 2022