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Benedetta

Benedetta

History · Drama · Romance · 2021

A 17th-century nun becomes entangled in a forbidden lesbian affair with a novice. But it is Benedetta's shocking religious visions that threaten to shake the Church to its core.

Movie details

Benedetta

“I don't know God's ways, but he works his will through me.”

2021 History · Drama · Romance 2h 11m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.6 / 10

Community rating

A 17th-century nun becomes entangled in a forbidden lesbian affair with a novice. But it is Benedetta's shocking religious visions that threaten to shake the Church to its core.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Benedetta?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Blue Is the Warmest Color

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Mandingo

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The French Lieutenant's Woman

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Drama · 1981

In this story-within-a-story, Anna is an actress starring opposite Mike in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.

The Baby of Mâcon

The Baby of Mâcon

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In 17th-century Tuscany, a church play is performed for the benefit of young aristocrat Cosimo. In the play, a grotesque old woman gives birth to a beautiful baby boy. The child's older sister is quick to exploit the situation, selling blessings from the baby, and even claiming she's the true mother by virgin birth. However, when she attempts to seduce the bishop's son, the Church exacts a terrible revenge.

Shooting Dogs

Shooting Dogs

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Original Sin

Original Sin

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A young man is plunged into a life of subterfuge, deceit and mistaken identity in pursuit of a femme fatale whose heart is never quite within his grasp.

Immoral Tales

Immoral Tales

Drama · 1974

Four erotic tales from various historical eras. The first, 'The Tide', is set in the present day, and concerns a student and his young female cousin stranded on the beach by the tide, secluded from prying eyes. 'Therese Philosophe' is set in the nineteenth century, and concerns a girl being locked in her bedroom, where she contemplates the erotic potential of the objects contained within it. 'Erzsebet Bathory' is a portrait of the sixteenth-century countess who allegedly bathed in the blood of virgins, while 'Lucrezia Borgia' concerns an incestuous fifteenth-century orgy involving Lucrezia, her brother, and her father the Pope.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Paul Verhoeven

Written by

Paul Verhoeven · David Birke

Virginie Efira

Virginie Efira

Sister Benedetta Carlini

Charlotte Rampling

Charlotte Rampling

Sister Felicita

Daphné Patakia

Daphné Patakia

Bartolomea

Lambert Wilson

Lambert Wilson

Nuncio

Olivier Rabourdin

Olivier Rabourdin

Alfonso Cecchi

Louise Chevillotte

Louise Chevillotte

Sister Christina

Hervé Pierre

Hervé Pierre

Paolo Ricordati

Court is in session

Put Benedetta on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.