Support Us Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • Shopping
  • CW SHOPS
  • Support Us
  • Get Started
  • Tickets
  • CW SHOPS
Cinema


Daphné Patakia and Virginie Efira in Benedetta (Photo: MUBI)

Benedetta review

★★★★★


When Paul Verhoeven’s latest film Benedetta opened in Cannes last year, much was made of the graphic lesbian sex between devoted nuns in a 17th-century monastery. It’s even been called blasphemous. But Benedetta deserves more credence as an alluring indictment of religion and the harsh, theocratic forces operating at the time.


Realities splinter as visions and miracles rise and fall in reliability, experienced by the real-life Sister Benedetta Carlini (depicted here by Virginie Efira). The episodes range from bloody stigmata to Jesus cutting up Edenic serpents like a Game of Thrones warrior.


This progresses into discussions within the monastery. Charlotte Rampling plays the sceptical abbess Sister Felicita, who doubts Benedetta’s claims. She's also wise to the patriarchal politics of the Church, and knows how to play the game: submitting and scrutinising when necessary.


Despite Verhoeven’s atheism, the film provides no clear-cut answers. Is Benedetta the bride of Christ or just a persuasive swindler, craving power? Or is she just mentally ill? Taking clear influence from Ken Russell’s orgiastic 1971 horror film The Devils (also set in a 17th-century convent), Verhoeven loves to examine the flaws and attractions in these strict religious systems.


When the young Bartolomea (Daphné Patakia) runs to find sanctuary in the monastery, escaping her abusive father, Benedetta takes an amorous shine to her. Thus begins the sexual sapphic relationship for which Benedetta was famously imprisoned and put on trial. These scenes are among the steamiest you’ll see this year, gradual and brilliant and even funny. One controversial scene involves a wooden dildo carved from a Virgin Mary statuette, cheekily poking fun at Christianity.


It might’ve been more interesting to see a female filmmaker tackle this material, which is adapted and directed by men (imagine what Céline Sciamma would've done). But Benedetta is still an erotically gripping and theologically horrific drama that delights in its desire to provoke.

WHEN
15 Apr 2022 – 15 Apr 2023, IN CINEMAS
WEBSITE
Click here for more information
Share:
Benedetta Paul Verhoeven Cinema 2022


You may also like:


  • The Culture Whisper team
  • Support Us
  • Tickets
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we send newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
×