Benedetta (film)

Benedetta is a 2021 biographical drama film directed and co-written by Paul Verhoeven, starring Virginie Efira as Benedetta Carlini, a novice nun in the 17th century who joins an Italian convent and has a lesbian love affair with another nun.[3][4]

Benedetta
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPaul Verhoeven
Screenplay byDavid Birke
Paul Verhoeven
Based onImmodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy
by Judith C. Brown
Produced bySaïd Ben Saïd
Michel Merkt
Jérôme Seydoux
StarringVirginie Efira
Lambert Wilson
Daphne Patakia
Olivier Rabourdin
Clotilde Courau
Charlotte Rampling
Hervé Pierre
CinematographyJeanne Lapoirie
Edited byJob ter Burg
Music byAnne Dudley
Production
companies
Pathé
SBS Productions
Distributed byPathé Distribution
Release dates
  • 9 July 2021 (2021-07-09) (Cannes)
  • 9 July 2021 (2021-07-09) (France)
Running time
132 minutes[1]
Countries
  • France
  • Netherlands
LanguageFrench
Box office$4.1 million[2]

The film is loosely based on the 1986 non-fiction book Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy by Judith C. Brown,[5] and brings back most of the key crew members from Verhoeven's previous film Elle (which co-starred Efira), including producer Saïd Ben Saïd, writer David Birke, composer Anne Dudley and editor Job ter Burg.

The film premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in competition for the Palme d'Or.[6]

Plot

In 17th century Italy, young Benedetta Carlini is being taken to the convent in the town of Pescia to become a nun. When they stop at a roadside altar to pray, a group of bandits arrive and attempt to steal Benedetta's mother's necklace. The devout Benedetta warns them that she speaks with the Virgin Mary, who will punish them. When a bird, which Benedetta had identified as being the spirit of Mary, defecates in the bandit leader's eye, he gives back the necklace.

In Pescia, Benedetta is taken into the convent, run by Abbess Felicita. Years later, Benedetta is a grown woman, and a devout nun. During a play, in which Benedetta is playing the Virgin Mary, she has a vision of Jesus calling to her. A young woman named Bartolomea seeks shelter in the convent from her abusive father. Benedetta is assigned to oversee the integration of the poor and uneducated Bartolomea into the life of the convent. Bartolomea tells Benedetta that she was sexually abused by her father and brothers. That night, Bartolomea kisses Benedetta. Benedetta warns Bartolomea to be wary of the Abbess and her daughter, Sister Christina.

Benedetta begins to have visions of Jesus calling her to join him and saving her from dangers. After a particularly fraught vision, where a man who she mistakes for Jesus saves her from being gang raped, Benedetta falls into a deep illness. Abbess Felicita assigns Bartolomea to look after her. Benedetta begins to recover and starts teaching the illiterate Bartolomea to read and write. Benedetta has a vision of Christ on the cross. He tells her to undress herself and him and then touch his hands. The next morning, Benedetta wakes up with stigmata on her hands and feet.

An investigation ensues. Abbess Felicita is skeptical because previous incidents of stigmata have always occurred during prayer and Benedetta was asleep. Benedetta also lacks the head wounds formed by the crown of thorns. After leaving Felicita's chambers, Benedetta collapses. As people rush to check on her, she begins speaking in a male voice, castigating those who do not believe in her. She now has bleeding wounds on her forehead. Sister Christina notices a shard of glass on the floor and tells her mother that she believes that Benedetta inflicted the wounds herself. Felicita warns her that the male power structure has decided to verify Benedetta's stigmata as a legitimate miracle for political purposes.

Benedetta is elevated to Abbess in place of Felicita. Christina speaks out against this, but is warned by her mother that going against this decision could destroy her. Benedetta and Bartolomea are moved into Felicita's old quarters. They two begin having sex. Bartolomea carves a sex toy for Benedetta in the shape of the Virgin Mary. Christina goes to the priest and shares her belief that Benedetta faked her stigmata. She lies and says that she saw Benedetta inflict her head injuries. At meal time the next day, the priest makes Christina say her accusations publicly. When called on to back up her daughter's claim, Felicita refuses to lie and says that Christina did not directly witness what happened. Benedetta, apparently possessed with the spirit of Jesus, orders Christina to flagellate herself. Felicita observes Benedetta and Bartolomea having sex through a peep hole in their chambers.

A comet passes over the abbey, which many interpret as a sign of impending tragedy. As it passes, Christina flings herself from the abbey roof. As she dies, Benedetta asks to intercede with God on behalf of her soul, but an angry Felicita tells her to stay away. As a plague begins to ravage the countryside, Benedetta has a vision that Pescia will be spared and orders the abbey closed to prevent infection. Felicita slips out and travels to meet with the local Nuncio, sharing what she knows about Benedetta's sexual indiscretions.

Felicita returns to the abbey with the Nuncio as the plague worsens. Entering the abbey, they discover that Benedetta has died of unknown causes. As the Nuncio attempts to administer the last rites, Benedetta awakens, saying that she was in heaven and has seen the fates of all those present. The Nuncio has his men search the abbey for the wooden sex toy but they cannot find it. He opens a court of inquiry into Benedetta's conduct. When questioned, Bartolomea denies having sex, saying that she loves Benedetta as she does her other sisters. The Nuncio talks with Benedetta in private. As she washes his feet, she notices a flea, and realizes that he has likely brought the plague into the abbey.

Barolomea is tortured by the Nuncio's men and finally confesses to her sexual activities, When she leads the Nuncio to the wooden dildo, hidden inside a book in Benedetta's chambers, he has Benedetta arrested. Benedetta once more begins speaking in a man's voice and lashes out at those who persecute her, announcing that the Nuncio will soon fall ill. The Nuncio discovers that Felicita has the plague and orders her condition hidden. Bartolomea is expelled from the abbey.

The day has arrived for Benedetta to be executed. She first asks to speak to Felicita to beg forgiveness. She tells Felicita that Christina is in heaven. A distraught Felicita asks Benedetta what she has seen of her future. Benedetta whispers something to her. The Nuncio is warned that the people of Pescia will not allow Benedetta to be executed, but he proceeds anyway. As Benedetta is led through the crowd, Bartolomea pushes her way to the front and begs forgiveness. Benedetta merely smiles at her. In the town square, the Nuncio tells Benedetta that he will allow her to be strangled rather than burned at the stake if she confesses. Benedetta agrees.

Benedetta reveals new stigmata on her hands and begins speaking in a male voice, telling the crowd that the angel of death approaches. Felicita emerges from the crowd and doffs her robe, revealing plague sores. The Nuncio's men begin burning Benedetta at the stake, but the crowd attacks them, forcing them to flee. Bartolomea unties Benedetta but discovers a bloody piece of glass at her feet. The Nuncio flees for safety, but is attacked and killed by a mob. Benedetta arrives and offers to pray for him. The Nuncio asks her if she saw whether he will go to heaven of hell. When she tells him he will go to heaven he accuses her of lying. Bartolomea hustles Benedetta away. Felicita steps on the pyre meant for Benedetta and is burned to death.

In an abandoned stable outside of town, Benedetta and Bartolomea awake, having spent the night together. Seeing Pescia in the distance, Benedetta begins dressing, saying that she has to return. Bartolomea begs her to stay, saying that they can finally be together and that they can go anywhere. She tries to get Benedetta to admit, just between them, that she faked her stigmata, but Benedetta refuses. Insisting that the people need her, Benedetta heads off towards Pescia.

A title card reveals that Benedetta lived in the abbey until her death at the age of 70 and that the plague spared Pescia.

Cast

Production

Development

Following the critical and commercial success of his previous film Elle (2016), director Paul Verhoeven developed several projects, including one about Jesus based on his own book Jesus of Nazareth, another one about the French Resistance during World War II, and a third one scripted by Jean-Claude Carrière about a medieval story set in a monastery.[7] On 25 April 2017, producer Saïd Ben Saïd revealed that the third had been the one chosen as Verhoeven's next project.[8] The film, then titled Blessed Virgin, marked the producer and the director's second collaboration after Elle. Gerard Soeteman, who has worked with Verhoeven on eight previous films including Turkish Delight (1973), The Fourth Man (1983) and Black Book (2006), replaced Carrière to adapt the non-fiction book Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy which was published in 1986 and written by historian Judith C. Brown. Soeteman ultimately distanced himself from the project and had his name removed from the credits as he felt too much of the story was focused on sexuality.[9]

Belgian actress Virginie Efira, who played a supporting part as a devout Catholic in Elle, was cast in the leading role of Benedetta Carlini, a 17th-century nun who suffers from disturbing religious and erotic visions.[3] On 25 March 2018, Saïd Ben Saïd announced that Verhoeven had co-written the final draft with David Birke, who previously wrote Elle.[10] Judith C. Brown stated that "Paul Verhoeven and David Birke have written an imaginative and spellbinding script that explores the intersection of religion, sexuality, and human ambition in an age of plague and faith."[11] Verhoeven then clarified his intentions:

Blessed Virgin must be deeply infused with a sense of the sacred. I have been interested in the sacred ever since I was a child, both generally and more specifically in music, painting.[12]

On 3 April 2018, Lambert Wilson told French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche that he has a role in the film. On 1 May 2018, Deadline Hollywood revealed that Charlotte Rampling entered negotiations to play a key supporting role.[13] On 4 May 2018, it was announced that the film was retitled to Benedetta. Although Verhoeven had hoped to convince Isabelle Huppert to play a supporting role in the film,[14] producer Saïd Ben Saïd stated on 31 May 2018, that the actress was not joining the project.[15] Ben Saïd also confirmed that Louise Chevillotte, Olivier Rabourdin, Clotilde Courau and Hervé Pierre had been cast in the film.

Filming

Principal photography on the retitled production began on 19 July 2018 in Montepulciano, Italy.[16][17] Other locations included Val d'Orcia and Bevagna, also in Italy, as well as the Silvacane Abbey and Le Thoronet Abbey, in France.[18] Production was followed by a strong campaign of secrecy and no one, unless working on the film, was allowed on the set.[19] Producer Saïd Ben Saïd admitted that the story was "subject to controversy" and feared reactions from fundamentalist Catholic associations.[19]

Release
The cast promoting the film at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival

On 16 February 2018, The Hollywood Reporter announced Pathé would be producing and distributing the film in France and would also be handling international sales.[20] On 29 August 2018, Pathé and SBS Productions released a first look image of the film.[21]

Although it was initially reported that the film would premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, Pathé announced on 14 January 2019 that the release had been postponed until 2020, stating that post-production had been delayed as Verhoeven was recovering from hip surgery.[22] However, the release was delayed again to 2021, following the cancellation of the 2020 edition of the Cannes Film Festival where the film was set to premiere, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

On 10 May 2020, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux confirmed the film's selection and stated that "Paul Verhoeven delivers an erotic and mischievous, also political, vision of the Middle Ages in a grandiose production."[24]

Benedetta's world premiere took place at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in competition for the Palme d'Or.[25][26] By the end of its run, it will have screened at film festivals in Brussels,[27] Busan,[28] Haifa,[29] Hong Kong,[30] Karlovy Vary,[31] London,[32] New York,[33] and San Sebastian.[34][35]

On 5 May 2021, Pathé unveiled the first trailer and final theatrical release poster.[36] That same month, MUBI and IFC Films acquired the distribution rights to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States respectively.[37][38] It was released in the United States on 3 December 2021.[39]

Reception

Box office

In its opening weekend, the film earned $136,839 from 201 theaters.[40]

Critical response

In France, the film averages 3.5/5 on AlloCiné from 36 press reviews.[41] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on 166 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Precariously walking a tightrope of varying genres and tones, Benedetta provokes salient questions about sexual freedom and its relationship to faith."[42] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[43]

Protests

At the 2021 New York Film Festival, where Benedetta was part of the Main Slate, the Catholic group, The American TFP staged a protest targeting the film. The group denounced it as blasphemous for its portrayal of lesbianism within the confines of a convent.[44][45] Upon the film's US commercial release, the film was once again protested by The American TFP as well as other Catholic groups throughout the country.[46][47]

The film was refused classification in Singapore by the Infocomm Media Development Authority due to portrayals of "the Jesus Christ and members of the church that is insensitive and offensive to the Christian and Catholic faith".[48][49]

Accolades
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Cannes Film Festival 21 July 2021 Palme d'Or Paul Verhoeven Nominated [50]
Queer Palm Paul Verhoeven Nominated
César Awards 25 February 2022 Best Actress Virginie Efira Nominated [51]
Hawaii Film Critics Society 13 January 2022 Best Best Foreign Language Film Benedetta Nominated [52]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards 1 January 2022 Best Best Foreign Language Film Benedetta Nominated [53]
Lumières Award 17 January 2022 Best Actress Virginie Efira Nominated [54]
Most Promising Actress Daphné Patakia Nominated
Magritte Awards 12 February 2022 Most Promising Actress Daphné Patakia Nominated [55]
National Board of Review 15 March 2022 Top Five Foreign Language Films Benedetta Won [56]
Women Film Critics Circle 14 December 2021 Best Actress Virginie Efira Nominated [57]
Best Foreign Film by or About Women Benedetta Nominated
Hall of Shame Paul Verhoeven Won

References
  1. "Benedetta (2022)". Irish Film Classification Office. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. "Benedetta". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  3. Mitchell, Robert (26 April 2017). "Paul Verhoeven to Direct 'Blessed Virgin,' Based on True Story of Lesbian Nun". Variety.
  4. Collinson, Gary (7 May 2018). "Charlotte Rampling joins Paul Verhoeven's religious erotic thriller Blessed Virgin". Flickering Myth.
  5. Brown, Judith C. (1986). Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy (1st ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195036751. LCCN 85005031.
  6. Lachasse, Jérôme (4 June 2020). "Festival de Cannes: un film déjà sélectionné pour l'édition 2021" [Cannes Festival: a film already selected for the 2021 edition]. BFMTV (in French).
  7. Macnab, Geoffrey (20 May 2016). "Paul Verhoeven interview: the director continues to stoke up controversy as his latest film premieres at Cannes". The Independent.
  8. Tartaglione, Nancy (26 April 2017). "Paul Verhoeven Sets Next: 'Blessed Virgin' To Star 'Elle's Virginie Efira As Lesbian Nun". Deadline Hollywood.
  9. Bongers, Vincent (29 November 2018). "Iedereen is ambigu" [Everyone is ambiguous]. Mare (in Dutch). Leiden University.
  10. Ben Saïd, Saïd [@saidbensaid66] (25 March 2018). "Finally..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. Ben Saïd, Saïd [@saidbensaid66] (25 March 2018). "« Paul Verhoeven and David Birke have written an imaginative and spellbinding script that explores the intersection of religion, sexuality, and human ambition in an age of plague and faith » JUDITH BROWN" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. Ben Saïd, Saïd [@saidbensaid66] (6 April 2018). "« BLESSED VIRGIN must be deeply infused with a sense of the sacred. I have been interested in the sacred ever since I was a child, both generally and more specifically in music, painting » Paul Verhoeven" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. Wiseman, Andreas (1 May 2018). "Charlotte Rampling Set To Join Paul Verhoeven's Erotic Thriller 'Blessed Virgin'". Deadline Hollywood.
  14. "Paul Verhoeven wil Isabelle Huppert weer voor nieuwe film" [Paul Verhoeven wants Isabelle Huppert again for new film]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 12 November 2017.
  15. Ben Saïd, Saïd [@saidbensaid66] (31 May 2018). "No, that's not correct. Virginie Efira, Charlotte Rampling, Daphné Patakia, Louise Chevillotte, Olivier Rabourdin, Lambert Wilson, Clotilde Courau, Hervé Pierre are the actors of the film" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. "Paul Verhoevens Blessed Virgin heet nu Benedetta" [Paul Verhoeven's Blessed Virgin is now called Benedetta]. RTL Boulevard (in Dutch). 11 July 2018.
  17. "Inizia la lavorazione di "Benedetta" di Verhoeven" [Work begins on Verhoeven's "Benedetta"]. Il Cittadino (in Italian). 11 July 2018.
  18. Amalric, Laurent (18 October 2018). "Paul Verhoeven, le réalisateur de "Basic Instinct", a tourné son sulfureux "Benedetta" dans le Var" [Paul Verhoeven, the director of "Basic Instinct", shot his sultry "Benedetta" in Var]. Nice-Matin (in French).
  19. Clarac, Toma (5 May 2021). "Virginie Efira : " Le vrai danger, c'est l'immobilité "" [Virginie Efira: "The real danger is immobility"]. Vanity Fair (in French).
  20. Roxborough, Scott (16 February 2018). "Berlin: Pathe to Release Paul Verhoeven's 'Blessed Virgin' in France". The Hollywood Reporter.
  21. Goodfellow, Melanie (29 August 2018). "Pathé, SBS unveil first image of Verhoeven's newly titled nun drama 'Benedetta'". Screen Daily.
  22. Goodfellow, Melanie (14 January 2019). "Paul Verhoeven's nun drama 'Benedetta' delayed until 2020". Screen Daily.
  23. Grater, Tom (12 May 2020). "Paul Verhoeven Planning 'Bel Ami' Series With 'Elle' Producer & 'Black Book' Scribe". Deadline Hollywood.
  24. Schaller, Nicolas (10 May 2020). "Les pistes concrètes de Thierry Frémaux pour réinventer Cannes 2020" [The practical tracks of Thierry Frémaux to reinvent Cannes 2020]. L'Obs (in French).
  25. "Thierry Frémaux garde une place pour Benedetta de Paul Verhoeven" [Thierry Frémaux keeps a spot for Paul Verhoeven's Benedetta] (in French). Canal +. 4 June 2020.
  26. Buchanan, Kyle (10 July 2021). "Cannes Film Festival: The Director of 'Showgirls' Takes On Lesbian Nuns". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  27. "Benedetta". BRIFF. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  28. "Benedetta". Busan International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021.
  29. Brown, Hannah (6 September 2021). "Stillwater, starring Matt Damon, to open Haifa Film Festival". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  30. Marsh, James (12 August 2021). "10 highlights of Hong Kong Summer International Film Festival 2021". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  31. Kudlac, Martin (20 September 2021). "Karlovy Vary 2021 Review: In BENEDETTA, Paul Verhoeven Marries Prestige Satire to Camp Drama". ScreenAnarchy. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  32. Ramachandran, Naman (7 September 2021). "'Spencer,' 'The Lost Daughter,' 'Benedetta' Among BFI London Film Festival Galas, Full Program Unveiled". Variety. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  33. Shafer, Ellise (10 August 2021). "New York Film Festival Slate Includes 'Titane,' 'Benedetta,' 'The Velvet Underground'". Variety. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  34. "Eleven films to compete for the RTVE-Otra Mirada Award at San Sebastian Festival". WebWire. 13 September 2021. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  35. "San Sebastian Film Festival". sansebastianfestival. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  36. Keslassy, Elsa (5 May 2021). "Cannes Confirms Paul Verhoeven's 'Benedetta' in Competition; Pathé Unveils Trailer, Poster". Variety.
  37. Wiseman, Andreas (25 May 2021). "'Benedetta': Mubi Takes UK Rights To Paul Verhoeven's Cannes-Bound Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  38. Keslassy, Elsa; Lang, Brent (27 May 2021). "IFC Films Buys Paul Verhoeven's 'Benedetta' Ahead of Cannes Debut (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  39. Wiseman, Andreas (12 August 2021). "Paul Verhoeven's Steamy Cannes Hit 'Benedetta' Gets U.S. Release Date". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  40. "Domestic 2021 Weekend 49". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  41. "Benedetta". AlloCiné. Retrieved 23 November 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  42. "Benedetta". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  43. "Benedetta". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  44. Shafer, Ellise. "Catholic Protesters Congregate Outside 'Benedetta's' New York Film Festival Premiere". Variety. Variety. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  45. Lattanzio, Ryan. "Catholic Protesters Gather Outside NYFF Premiere of Paul Verhoeven's Lesbian Nun Drama 'Benedetta'". IndieWire. IndieWire. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  46. Tingle, Francis. "THE VENDETTA AGAINST 'BENEDETTA' AT TEXAS THEATRE". Central Track. Central Track. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  47. Rouner, Jef (14 December 2021). "Why were protesters outside 14 Pews theater on Saturday night?". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  48. "Info-communications Media Development Authority". imdaonline.imda.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  49. "Classification Information for Benedetta". imdaonline.imda.gov.sg. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  50. McCarthy, Todd. "Cannes Review: Paul Verhoeven's 'Benedetta'". Deadline. Deadline. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  51. Tartaglione, Nancy (26 January 2022). "César Awards Nominations: 'Lost Illusions', 'Annette', 'Aline' Dominate; 'Titane' Shut Out Of Best Film Race – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  52. Wurst II, Barry. "THE HAWAII FILM CRITICS SOCIETY 2021 LIST". HAWAII FILM CRITICS SOCIETY. HAWAII FILM CRITICS SOCIETY. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  53. Anderson, Erik. "2021 Las Vegas Critics nominations: 'Dune' and 'West Side Story' lead". Awards Watch. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  54. Keslassy, Elsa (18 January 2022). "Audrey Diwan's 'Happening,' Leos Carax's 'Annette' Win France's Lumière Awards". Variety. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  55. Goodfellow, Melanie (12 January 2022). "'Madly In Life', 'Playground' lead Belgium's Magritte nominations". Screen Daily. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  56. Sharf, Zack (2 December 2021). "News Film TV Awards Video Shop More National Board of Review Winners 2021: 'Licorice Pizza' Takes Best Picture and Best Director". IndieWire. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  57. Gabardi, Chiara Spagnoli (14 December 2021). "The Women Film Critics Circle Announces Its 2021 Winners, Tributing Hall's 'Passing' and Campion's 'The Power of the Dog'". Cinema Daily. Retrieved 28 March 2022.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.