Sins of the flesh
Benedetta
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Certificate 18, 131 minutes
Released 15 April
The Dutch director Paul Verhoeven revels in controversy… His latest work, Benedetta, is… sexually explicit, but also tackles religion within a historical context. It clearly has plenty of potential to offend.
Benedetta is based on the story of the 17th-century Italian nun Benedetta Carlini who had visions and exhibited stigmata. She became an abbess and was investigated and discredited by Catholic officials. There were suggestions that Benedetta’s visionary traffic was with the Devil rather than God, while various nuns’ testimonies claimed her stigmata to be faked. Her roommate Bartolomea confessed to regular sexual activity with Benedetta. Benedetta was demoted.
Verhoeven eschews historical accuracy for the spiritual, the spectacular and the carnal… [Read more…]
Full review published in Reform magazine.
See also my alternative review.
Teaser trailer:
Trailer: