Benedetta

'Benedetta' is a 2021 Italian drama film directed by Paul Verhoeven, known for his bold and often provocative style. Set in 17th-century Italy, the film tells the story of Benedetta Carlini, a young and charismatic nun played by Virginie Efira, who becomes embroiled in a forbidden lesbian affair with a novice nun, Sister Bartolomea, played by Daphne Patakia. The film begins with Benedetta, a peasant girl from a small village in Italy, who is taken in by the nuns of the Convent of the Annunciation in Pescia. She quickly earns their favor and becomes a star pupil, impressing the convent's Mother Superior, Sister Benedetta of Ferrara, played by Charlotte Rampling. Mother Superior takes a particular interest in Benedetta and begins to mentor her, recognizing her exceptional intelligence and devotion. However, it soon becomes apparent that Benedetta is also exceptionally beautiful, and her charms do not go unnoticed by the other nuns. One of these nuns is Sister Bartolomea, a shy and reserved novice who is struggling to come to terms with her own desires. Despite their differences, the two women begin a clandestine affair, sneaking stolen glances at each other and finding ways to be together whenever possible. As their relationship deepens, Benedetta starts to experience a series of powerful and unsettling visions, which she believes are messages from God. These visions are filled with vivid imagery and apocalyptic themes, warning of great calamities and disasters that are to come. The nuns of the convent are initially skeptical of Benedetta's claims, but soon, they begin to take notice of the strange and unsettling occurrences that seem to follow her. As the visions intensify, Benedetta becomes the center of attention, with the nuns flocking to her for guidance and comfort. In the presence of these visions, Benedetta's body begins to contort and convulse, as if possessed by a divine force. This behavior, combined with her striking beauty and her apparent communion with the divine, has the nuns convinced that she is the chosen vessel of the Lord. However, not everyone is convinced. Mother Superior, who has grown increasingly wary of Benedetta's influence, begins to suspect that the young nun is using her visions as a means to control and manipulate the other nuns. Meanwhile, the local church officials are also suspicious of Benedetta's behavior, and they soon begin to investigate the convent. As tensions rise, the two women find themselves at the heart of a maelstrom of controversy and scandal. Their affair, which was once a stolen pleasure, now threatens to expose them both to the harsh realities of the outside world. The consequences of discovery are severe, especially for women accused of such 'crimes', and the two nuns are well aware that their lives will never be the same if they are caught. Verhoeven's film is a wicked and subversive attack on the hypocrisy and intolerance of the Catholic Church, as well as the oppressive societal norms that govern women's lives. Through Benedetta's story, Verhoeven highlights the ways in which women's bodies are controlled, manipulated, and policed by the male-dominated institutions that govern them. Benedetta's character is a complex one, both beautiful and terrifying, seductive and unsettling. Her visions are a powerful and unnerving force, and Verhoeven portrays them with the grandeur and spectacle of a divine spectacle. Efira's performance is breathtaking, capturing the full range of Benedetta's emotions, from her moments of ecstasy to her moments of despair. The film's climax is both a critique of patriarchal society and a powerful exploration of female desire. As the truth about Benedetta's visions and her affair begins to unravel, the stakes become higher and higher. Will the two women be able to maintain their secret love, or will they be torn apart by the societal forces that seek to control them?