BENEDETTA
Pathe Films released a first glimpse at Paul Verhoeven’s (ROBOCOP, ELLE) current production of BENEDETTA. The film tells a unique story of Benedetta Carlini (Virginie Efira), a nun in 17th century Italy who received erotic and religious visions, was blessed with the stigmata of Jesus Christ, and is ostracised by the Catholic church. It was later believed that her sexuality and a love affair was the real reason for her denunciation. Not a jump scare type film such as The Nun but can be construed as disturbing and extremely controversial. Paul Verhoeven certainly has a way of getting under the skin so to speak of real issues that plague our society.
The story is an adaptation of Judith C. Brown’s Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy, which chronicles Benedetta’s life from a mystic to a sexual deviant. With most historical accounts, the author perceives a situation from their standpoint and immortalizes a view of the truth that, as time passes, no one may contest. This includes historical accounts throughout time, with the majority funded by blue-blooded aristocrats cementing their immortality as a hero rather than a villian. All one can do, as a historian is to study as many accounts as is available to get the sum of their parts. Though I have not read Judith’s work, i hope that she stayed as close to the bare bones of Benedetta’s tragic life as could be helped. Regardless of how true this film will be to the actual events, I know that it will certainly be gorgeous on the big screen. In Paul Verhoeven we trust.
Until the night takes our days, watch more movies!
Madame Revenant
“Today she is the lady of death, which I believe is the best muse to have”
-Kit Williams
