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HistoryDramaRomance

Benedetta

- I don't know God's ways, but he works his will through me.

A 17th-century nun becomes entangled in a forbidden lesbian affair with a novice. But it is Benedetta's shocking religious visions that threaten to shake the Church to its core.

Release Date : 2021-07-09

Language :FrenchLatin

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : SBS ProductionsTopkapi FilmsPathéFrance 2 CinémaFrance 3 CinémaBelga Productions

Production Country : BelgiumFranceNetherlands

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Virginie Efira

Character Name : Sister Benedetta Carlini

Original Name : Virginie Efira

Gender : Female

Charlotte Rampling

Character Name : Sister Felicita

Original Name : Charlotte Rampling

Gender : Female

Daphné Patakia

Character Name : Bartolomea

Original Name : Daphné Patakia

Gender : Female

Lambert Wilson

Character Name : Nuncio

Original Name : Lambert Wilson

Gender : Male

Olivier Rabourdin

Character Name : Alfonso Cecchi

Original Name : Olivier Rabourdin

Gender : Male

Louise Chevillotte

Character Name : Sister Christina

Original Name : Louise Chevillotte

Gender : Female

Hervé Pierre

Character Name : Paolo Ricordati

Original Name : Hervé Pierre

Gender : Male

Clotilde Courau

Character Name : Midea Carlini

Original Name : Clotilde Courau

Gender : Female

David Clavel

Character Name : Giuliano Carlini

Original Name : David Clavel

Gender : Male

Guilaine Londez

Character Name : Sister Jacopa

Original Name : Guilaine Londez

Gender : Female

Gaëlle Jeantet

Character Name : Sister Petra

Original Name : Gaëlle Jeantet

Gender : Female

Justine Bachelet

Character Name : Sister Juliana

Original Name : Justine Bachelet

Gender : Female

Lauriane Riquet

Character Name : Sister Roasanna

Original Name : Lauriane Riquet

Gender : Female

Eléna Plonka

Character Name : Young Benedetta

Original Name : Eléna Plonka

Gender : Female

Héloïse Bresc

Character Name : Christina enfant

Original Name : Héloïse Bresc

Gender : Male

Jonathan Couzinié

Character Name : Jésus-Christ

Original Name : Jonathan Couzinié

Gender : Male

Vinciane Millereau

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Vinciane Millereau

Gender : Female

Jérôme Chappatte

Character Name : Secretary

Original Name : Jérôme Chappatte

Gender : Male

Ewan Ribard

Character Name : Executioner

Original Name : Ewan Ribard

Gender : Male

Nicolas Béguinot

Character Name : Writer

Original Name : Nicolas Béguinot

Gender : Male

Satya Dusaugey

Character Name : Mercenary Dragon

Original Name : Satya Dusaugey

Gender : Male

Nicolas Gaspar

Character Name : Captain of the Mercenaries

Original Name : Nicolas Gaspar

Gender : Male

Benjamin Penemaria

Character Name : Captain of Soldiers

Original Name : Benjamin Penemaria

Gender : Male

Antoine Lelandais

Character Name : Lieutenant

Original Name : Antoine Lelandais

Gender : Male

Frédéric Sauzay

Character Name : Shepherd

Original Name : Frédéric Sauzay

Gender : Male

Sophie Breyer

Character Name : Novice

Original Name : Sophie Breyer

Gender : Female

Célia Kaci

Character Name : Young Novice

Original Name : Célia Kaci

Gender : Male

Alexia Chardard

Character Name : Sister Giulia

Original Name : Alexia Chardard

Gender : Female

Sébastien Chabane

Character Name : Passerby

Original Name : Sébastien Chabane

Gender : Male

Boris Gillot

Character Name : Merchant

Original Name : Boris Gillot

Gender : Male

Léa Lopez

Character Name : Teenager from Pescia #1

Original Name : Léa Lopez

Gender : Female

Olga Milshtein

Character Name : Teenager from Pescia #2

Original Name : Olga Milshtein

Gender : Male

Pascal Le Corre

Character Name : Flagellant

Original Name : Pascal Le Corre

Gender : Male

Raphaël Potier

Character Name : Plague Victim

Original Name : Raphaël Potier

Gender : Male

Philippe Saunier

Character Name : Resident of Pescia

Original Name : Philippe Saunier

Gender : Male

Fabrice Cals

Character Name : City Resident

Original Name : Fabrice Cals

Gender : Male

Quentin D'Hainaut

Character Name : Villager (uncredited)

Original Name : Quentin D'Hainaut

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-04-23

After living in a nunnery in Pescia since her youth, "Benedetta" (Virginie Efira) has visions that lead her to believe that she is speaking directly to Jesus. A somewhat sceptical Mother Superior (Charlotte Rampling) and her fellow nun "Christina" (Louise Cevillotte) have doubts, but those are not shared by an all-too-willing clergy and soon the young woman is the new Abbess. Simultaneously, the nunnery takes in the young "Bartolomea" (Daphne Patakia) from a torrid and violent relationship with her father and the two women become fast friends - with benefits! When the erstwhile Abbess flees to seek the intervention of the Papal Nuncio (Lambert Wilson) the full power of the church now confronts "Benedetta" - is she really a conduit from their Saviour, or is she no more than a fraud with "bestial" tendencies? The film looks stunning, the attention to the detail is excellent and Paul Verhoeven manages to delicately weave a story that demonstrates just how naive and gullible folks were in the 17th century; how fearful they were of god - and more importantly, the church and he uses the symbolism of the stigmata and of the crown of thorns to illustrate successfully the profound nature of deeply-held attitudes held by a largely ignorant, superstitious, population - especially as the plague approaches their city. It is based in fact, so the ending has limited scope for jeopardy; but Efira is superb in the role as are Cevilotte and Rampling - whose position as the story develops becomes quite an intriguing tightrope act. Sex features prominently, but none of it is gratuitous or seamy - it seems perfectly natural until used as a means of torture (and not in any kinky way!). Was she a charlatan? I know what I think...