Postponed by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Paul Verhoeven's new film Benedetta will finally be released in French cinemas on July 9, the same day as its screening in Competition at Cannes.
Virginie Efira as a homosexual nun
After Elle, winner of the César for Best Film in 2017, Paul Verhoeven (Elle, Basic Instinct) is back with a feature film that explores faith and sexuality at the heart of a religious institution. The story takes place in the 15th century. As the plague spreads in Italy, the young Benedetta Carlini joins the convent of Pescia in Tuscany. But Benedetta is not a woman like the others: since childhood, she is able to work miracles and her presence in her new community will upset the lives of the sisters. However, the nun Benedetta discovers herself a lesbian and will have an affair with a young woman. Considered blasphemous by the Church, this relationship will shake the lifestyle of this convent. Co-written by David Birke, screenwriter of Elle, the film is based on a true story. It is adapted from the play Sister Benedetta, between saint and lesbian by Judith C. Brown, which traces the destiny of Benedetta Carlini, a key figure in the Catholic religion of the seventeenth century. After being declared spiritually bound to Christ and endowed with visions, she became a recognized Sister. After her homosexuality came to light, Benedetta was ostracized and kept out of society. On the casting side, it is the actress Virginie Efira who plays the leading role of Benedetta. Daphne Patakia, will play Sister Bartolomea, with whom Benedetta has a romantic relationship. We also find Lambert Wilson, Charlotte Rampling, Olivier Rabourdin and Clotilde Courau. Shot in 2018, the film will be released in cinemas on July 9, and will be presented in Official Competition at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Check out the Benedetta trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG-hIVwk16w
