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Benedetta
France / Belgium / Netherlands 2021
produced by Saïd Ben Saïd, Michel Merkt, Jérôme, Seydoux for SBS Productions, Pathé, France 2, France 3, Topkapi Films, Belga Productions, Canal+, France Télévisions, Cinémage, Cofimage, Cofinova, Indéfilms, Palatine Etoile
directed by Paul Verhoeven
starring Virginie Efira, Charlotte Rampling, Daphne Patakia, Lambert Wilson, Olivier Rabourdin, Louise Chevillotte, Hervé Pierre, Clotilde Courau, David Clavel, Guilaine Londez, Gaëlle Jeantet, Justine Bachelet, Lauriane Riquet, Elena Plonka, Héloïse Bresc, Jonathan Couzinié, Vinciane Millereau, Jérôme Chappatte, Erwan Ribard, Nicolas Béguinot, Pero Radicic, Satya Dusaugey, Nicolas Gaspar, Benjamin Penemaria, Antoine Lelandais, Frédéric Sauzay, Sophie Breyer, Célia Kaci, Alexia Chardard, Sébastien Chabane, Boris Gillot, Léa Lopez, Olga Milshtein, Pascal Le Corre, Raphaël Potier, Philippe Saunier, Fabrice Cals
screenplay by David Birke, Paul Verhoeven, based on the book Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy by Judith C. Brown, music by Anne Dudley
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Italy, the 17th century: At a very young age, Benedetta (Virginie
Efira) enters the monastery of Pescia, and since she has always been firm
in her faith, she takes her being the "bride of the Lord" a
little too literally, as she has dreams - or is it visions - of Jesus
(Jonathan Couzinié) appearing to her, visions that sometimes border the
erotic. These visions sometimes take the form of seizures, and thus
eventually she's believed to be possessed. But when she's strapped to a
rack for a night and shows Jesus's stigmata the next day, this is declared
a Christian miracle, and this eventually results in her replacing the
current Abbes, Sister Felicita (Charlotte Rampling), to boost the
importance of the monastery. At around the same time, Bartolomea (Daphne
Patakia) enters the convent as a novice, more than anything else because
she tries to escape her rapist father (Frééric Sauzay). She and
Benedetta feel almost immediately attracted to one another, and the
sexually more open attitude of Bartolomea intrigues Benedetta - so it's
not long before the two women start having sex ... but Sister Felicita
spies on them, and figuring that this knowledge might help her regain her
status as Abbess, she travels to fetch the papal nuncio (Jérôme
Chappatte), figuring this is the only way to get rid of Benedetta, who's
very popular with the locals. However, while Felicita's out, Benedetta
orders to close the city gates for all as the plague is plaguing the
countryside, and a lockdown's the only way to avoid it. However, the
nuncio has special privileges of course, and manages to force the way into
the city for his and his entourage anyhow, and it's not long before
Benedetta is convicted to be burned at the stake. Thing is, while fetching
the nuncio, Sister Felicita has contracted the plague, and has brought it
into Pescia, and at Benedetta's planned executions things get completely
out of hand ... This film once again shows director Paul
Verhoeven at the top of his game, on the surface it's a lush period piece,
with convincing sets, props, costumes firmly in place, and some scenes
harking back to 1970s nunsploitationbeing almost a given - but on closer
inspection, the film has its subversive traits, plenty of satire and
irony, and asks more questions than it actually answers. But a
self-assured, fluid direction sees to it that Benedetta doesn't
become a thesis film but entertains throughout, and a first rate cast
beautifully carry the proceedings, to make this one into a fascinating
period piece.
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