BENEDETTA Trailer

One of our great provocateurs takes on a juicy subject in Benedetta, the latest from co-writer/director Paul Verhoeven.

If you’ve heard anything about Benedetta, it’s probably: lesbian nuns! Of course, that transgression would be chump change to Verhoeven, whose films have pushed buttons by satirizing militarism (Starship Troopers), twisting a rape-revenge narrative until it’s almost unrecognizable (Elle), and whatever the hell you think Showgirls does. Point is, lesbian nuns shouldn’t be shocking to anyone in 2021, so of course there’s much more to this story for Verhoeven to play with.

The film is a biopic of a real 17th-century nun who, yes, did have sexual relations with that woman but also had visions of Jesus and displayed mystical powers. The latter stuff is where the real transgression comes in, with a seemingly chosen woman opening up all sorts of avenues to lampoon the mighty Catholic Church.

Starring as the titular Benedetta Carlini is Verhoeven veteran Virginie Efira, who will almost certainly be given much to play with here. Co-starring with her is with the great Charlotte Rampling as the skeptical abbess and Daphne Patakia as Benedetta’s lover.

The film has already drawn the expected outrage, with a small group of people taking the bait and protesting its showing at the New York Film Festival. It was essentially free advertising, though, as discomfort and outrage is exactly what people want from a Verhoeven movie. So buckle up for this one.

Benedetta is directed by Paul Verhoeven and stars Virginie Efira, Charlotte Rampling, and Daphne Patakia. It will be released in the US on December 3rd, 2021, and in the UK on March 25nd, 2022. For international release dates, click here.

Will you confess to looking forward to this movie? Let us know in the comments!