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.
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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
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