Benedetta (4 Stars)

Paul Verhoeven has had a long career, having directed films for the last 50 years. He's made a few science fiction films, but he's best known for "Basic Instinct", which I watched yesterday. "Benedetta" is a very different film for him. It's a story based on the biography of a controversial nun who lived in the 17th Century. Is it a true story? That's up for the viewer to decide. Paul Verhoeven carefully leaves things open that different people will interpret differently.

The film shows the Roman Catholic church at its worst. At the age of eight Benedetta's father delivers her to a convent in Pescia, Italy. Right from the beginning we see that the convent is run as a business. The abbess demands payment for accepting Benedetta, enough to make a profit out of keeping her.

But Benedetta isn't like all the other nuns. She has visions of Jesus, and miracles happen around her. When she prays, Jesus answers her. This comes to a head when she receives the stigmata on her hands and feet. The abbess thinks they're fake, self-inflicted wounds, even though her room mate Bartolomea saw that she was sleeping when the wounds appeared. The local provost is also sceptical, but he thinks that if she's declared a saint it will bring financial benefits to him, so he makes Benedetta the new abbess.

The problem is that Benedetta is having a lesbian relationship with Bartolomea. This is witnessed, and attempts are made to accuse her of heresy. She refuses to back down. Jesus speaks through her, threatening the lives of anyone who tries to harm her.

Was Benedetta a saint, a madwoman or a fraudster? Those are the questions that Paul Verhoeven leaves open. The viewer will decide, based on his own religious beliefs. We never see Benedetta faking her injuries, but maybe she did. We see her visions, but maybe they were the ravings of a madwoman. But there are problems even for the religious viewers. Would God bless a woman who's a lesbian? Apart from that, when Benedetta speaks with Jesus' voice, would Jesus really threaten death and destruction? It sounds more like demonic possession.

I can't give an opinion on what I believe. Assuming that the book it's based on is a true story, I'm unable to interpret the facts. I have no problems with nuns being lesbians, but the miracles are difficult for me to swallow. Why did a comet appear above the convent while Benedetta and Bartomolea were having sex? Was it a supernatural occurrence or pure coincidence? The film has too many coincidences to be brushed aside.

If you like the film (or even if you don't) please leave a comment with your thoughts.

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