Year: 2021
Runtime: 131 min
Language: French
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Set in 17th-century Italy, this film follows a devout nun whose intense spiritual journey leads to a forbidden and passionate relationship with a young novice. As her visions and experiences become increasingly vivid, Benedetta’s revelations challenge the established doctrines of the Church. Her actions and beliefs provoke a crisis that threatens her position and exposes hidden truths within the religious order, forcing her to confront the consequences of her desires and convictions.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Benedetta yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Benedetta (2021), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
In 17th-century Pescia, Italy, a young girl named Benedetta Carlini is brought by her parents to a Theatine convent overseen by Abbess Felicita (Charlotte Rampling). After 18 years of devoted life, during a play where she plays the Virgin Mary, the adult Benedetta (Virginie Efira) experiences a profound vision of Jesus calling her name.
Things take a turn when Bartolomea (Daphné Patakia), a teenage peasant girl, seeks refuge in the convent from her abusive father. Benedetta is tasked with guiding Bartolomea as she adjusts to convent life. That night, a passionate kiss from Bartolomea ignites something deeper within Benedetta. As time passes, Benedetta begins having vivid visions of Jesus. After a traumatic vision where a man she believes to be Jesus saves her from a brutal attack, she falls gravely ill. Abbess Felicita assigns Bartolomea to care for her during this distressing time.
During further visions, Christ urges Benedetta to undress and touch His hands. To her bewilderment, she wakes up the following morning with stigmata on her hands and feet, sparking an investigation into these miraculous occurrences. Abbess Felicita becomes skeptical, noting that Benedetta’s stigmata manifested while she was asleep, not in prayer, and her forehead lacks the marks of a crown of thorns. Shortly after, Benedetta collapses outside Felicita’s chambers and begins speaking in a commanding male voice, chastising those who doubt her while fresh wounds appear on her forehead.
Sister Christina (Louise Chevillotte), the abbess’s daughter, suspects foul play after discovering a shard of pottery nearby, raising concerns about Benedetta’s wounds. A conflict brews between Felicita and local church authorities regarding how to handle the looming fascination surrounding Benedetta’s visions, eventually leading to Benedetta’s rise to abbess, replacing Felicita. As Benedetta and Bartolomea take residence in Felicita’s former quarters, they begin a steamy romance, even resorting to using a dildo that Bartolomea crafts from Benedetta’s wooden Virgin Mary statuette.
During confession, Christina lies to a priest, claiming she witnessed Benedetta inflicting her own wounds, forcing the priest to compel her to speak publicly about her accusations. Nevertheless, Abbess Felicita defends Benedetta, revealing that Christina previously admitted she hadn’t seen the acts occur. In a twisted turn of fate, Benedetta, seemingly inhabited by Jesus’s spirit, orders Christina to flagellate herself while Felicita spies on Benedetta and Bartolomea engaging in their passionate affair.
In despair from her humiliation, Christina tragically jumps to her death from the convent’s roof. As a deadly plague sweeps through the area, Benedetta proclaims that Pescia will be spared, ordering the abbey to be closed to avoid contamination. In a covert mission, Felicita journeys to Florence to disclose Benedetta’s indiscretions to the papal nuncio, while Benedetta succumbs to a mysterious ailment.
Upon Felicita’s return with the Nuncio (Lambert Wilson), Benedetta miraculously revives, claiming she experienced heaven and learned the fates of all present. As a representative of the Pope, the Nuncio launches an investigation into Benedetta’s behavior. Initially, Bartolomea denies any sexual involvement but eventually breaks under torture, leading the Nuncio to uncover the wooden dildo hidden within a Bible. He orders Benedetta’s arrest, during which she again speaks in a male tone, prophesying the Nuncio’s impending illness.
Chaos ensues in the town square when Benedetta is set to be executed by burning at the stake. Just before the flames engulf her, she reveals new stigmata, asserting that the Angel of Death is near. In a dramatic revelation, Felicita, afflicted by the plague, blames the Nuncio for bringing calamity upon Pescia. The townspeople revolt, preventing Benedetta’s execution and leading to the Nuncio’s demise at their hands.
In the midst of the upheaval, Bartolomea frees Benedetta, discovering a bloody potsherd beside her. Escaping the chaos, the two women flee the town, while Felicita chooses to end her life by self-immolation upon the pyre meant for Benedetta.
The film concludes with Benedetta, after a night spent with Bartolomea, resolutely returning to the convent despite her companion’s pleas for her to stay and confess the truth about her stigmata. A title card notes that Benedetta lived until 1661 in the abbey, outlasting the plague that spared Pescia.
Last Updated: November 07, 2024 at 23:21
Still wondering what the ending of Benedetta (2021) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
In the film’s final scenes, Benedetta faces a choice between her spiritual life and her personal feelings. Although she briefly reunites with Bartelomew, she ultimately decides to return to her convent, believing that her future under God’s protection will be better and safer. This decision reflects her deep commitment to her faith and her belief that her divine calling takes precedence over her personal desires. Meanwhile, Bartelomew is left heartbroken, pleading with Benedetta not to leave her. The ending leaves viewers contemplating the complex relationship between faith, love, and power. It hints that Benedetta’s return to her previous life might seem like the safer, more righteous choice in her eyes, but it also raises questions about the oppressive nature of the religious system that allowed her to be manipulated and her feelings to be dismissed. Ultimately, the story seems to emphasize the importance of questioning where one’s sense of morality and righteousness originates. Benedetta’s rejection of her love and her choice to re-enter the convent suggest that she genuinely believes she is following God’s will, even if that may mean sacrificing genuine connection for institutional authority. The film leaves us with a haunting reflection on the ways faith can be intertwined with control, and how personal liberation often demands questioning the very systems that claim to uphold righteousness.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44
Don't stop at just watching — explore Benedetta in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Benedetta is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Benedetta with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Benedetta. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Discover movies like Benedetta that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Benedetta (2021) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Benedetta (2021) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Benedetta (2021) Ending Explained & Theories
Movies Like Benedetta – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Novitiate (2017) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Vision: From the Life of Hildegard Von Bingen (2010) Story Summary & Characters
The Portuguese Nun (2010) Full Summary & Key Details
The Little Hours (2017) Complete Plot Breakdown
Disobedience (2018) Movie Recap & Themes
The Name of the Rose (1986) Film Overview & Timeline
The Nun's Story (1959) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Singing Nun (1966) Full Movie Breakdown
Agnes of God (1985) Full Movie Breakdown
Vivere (2008) Movie Recap & Themes
Benediction (2022) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Nenette and Boni (1997) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Immaculate (2024) Complete Plot Breakdown
Strange Fits of Passion (2001) Story Summary & Characters
Sworn Virgin (2016) Complete Plot Breakdown