Reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

April 23, 2022
7.0
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...

Recommendation Movies

6.7
Drama
View
6.7
Annette
Annette2021
6.6
Drama
View
6.6
Moneyboys
Moneyboys2021
6.2
Drama
View
6.2
Bergman Island
Bergman Island2021
6.7
Comedy
View
6.7
Everything Went Fine
Everything Went Fine2021
6.5
Drama
View
6.5
Lola and the Sea
Lola and the Sea2019
5.8
Drama
View
5.8
One from the Heart
One from the Heart1982
5
Comedy
View
5
Fantasies
Fantasies2021
6.7
Drama
View
6.7
3 Faces
3 Faces2018
7
Comedy
View
7
Dream Horse
Dream Horse2021
6.7
Drama
View
6.7
Beats
Beats2019
6.3
Drama
View
6.3
Beasts
Beasts2021
6.4
Comedy
View
6.4
Lola and Her Brothers
Lola and Her Brothers2018
6.5
Drama
View
6.5
The Night Doctor
The Night Doctor2021
7
Romance
View
7
I Know Where I'm Going!
I Know Where I'm Going!1945
6.1
Drama
View
6.1
Creatura
Creatura2023
6
Comedy
View
6
Kissing Jessica Stein
Kissing Jessica Stein2002
6.3
Comedy
View
6.3
Song Express
Song Express2021
5.5
Romance
View
5.5
Cuori nella tormenta
Cuori nella tormenta1984
6.8
Adventure
View
6.8
In the Forests of Siberia
In the Forests of Siberia2016
7.1
Drama
View
7.1
Help
Help2021
© 2024 MoovieTime. All rights reserved.Made with Nuxt