Paul Verhoeven’s Benedetta Trailer Has Blood, Blasphemy And Biblical Visions – Exclusive

With a back catalogue including Total Recall, Elle and Showgirls, it should come as no surprise that Dutch director Paul Verhoeven’s new film Benedetta is full of sex, scandal and scathingly sardonic wit. Set in the 17th century, it stars Virginie Efira as the titular nun, whose lesbian affair with new addition to the convent Bartolomea (Daphne Patakia) and intense visions of Christ send shockwaves through the Church. The film will be distributed by MUBI in the UK, who have released a new exclusive trailer – watch it below:

Having lived in the convent since childhood, Benedetta starts to attract attention when she begins experiencing ‘stigmata’, aka the appearance of marks and wounds on the skin that correspond to those of Christ himself – but with her infatuation with Bartolomea and passionate path to sexual discovery taking place simultaneously, could that actually be the thing that’s bringing her closer to God? The supporting cast includes The Matrix Reloaded’s monologuing Merovingian, Lambert Wilson, as the Nuncio and Charlotte Rampling, who looks to be on scene-stealing form as head nun and chief cynic Soeur Felicita – the line “no miracle occurs in bed” is a particular standout.

Let Paul Verhoeven take you to church when Benedetta hits UK cinemas on 15 April – and find it streaming on MUBI from 1 July 2022.