Foreign language films have received huge boosts in the last two years, following the major critical and commercial successes of “Roma”, “Parasite” and “Portrait of a Lady On Fire,” Dutch director Paul Verhoeven will hope to add to that list with this adaptation of Judith C.Brown’s “The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy.”
Virginie Efira stars as Benedetta Carlini, a nun experiencing both religious and erotic visions, before entering a fiery relationship with Daphne Patakia’s Bartolomea. Sounds Verhoeven-esque and a clearcut return to the period-piece erotica of his underseen 2007 gem “Black Book.”
The film is now officially part of Cannes’ official competition with a trailer released this morning confirming that. “Benedetta” was supposed to premiere at the festival last May, but the pandemic canceled the event snd Verhoeven’s film decided to sit out the entire year just to get a chance at winning the Palme d’Or again this year. Suffice to say, expectations are sky high for this film.
“Elle,” Verhoeven’s last film, also had its world premiere at Cannes back in 2016, greeted with rave reviews. The film’s star “Isabelle Huppert” eventually received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance.
The 2021 Cannes Film Festival runs July 6 through July 17, and “Benedetta” will debut there and in French cinemas on July 9th, 2021, via Pathe International. Watch the first trailer below: