‘Benedetta’ Trailer: Paul Verhoeven’s Long-Awaited Erotic Lesbian Nun Film Will Officially Debut At Cannes This Summer

“Sparkles It’s confirmed, official, and it’s going to be hard to wait: #Benedetta by Paul Verhoeven with Virginie Efira joins the #Cannes2021 #Competition! Projected in World premiere in Cannes on July 9th, the film will be released in theatres in France on the same day,” and with that, the Cannes Film Festival finally announced the new Paul Verhoeven film, “Benedetta,” at their festival, a year after it was supposed to initially premiere.

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Starring Virginie Efira, Charlotte Rampling, Daphné Patakia, and Lambert Wilson, Benedetta” centers on a 15th-century nun in Italy who suffers from disturbing religious and erotic visions. She is assisted by a companion, and the relationship between the two women develops into a romantic love affair.

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“Benedetta” was written by David Birke and Verhoeven, based on the book “Immodest Acts” by Judith C. Brown. Here’s the official synopsis:

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In the late 15th century, with plague ravaging the land, Benedetta Carlini joins the convent in Pescia, Tuscany, as a novice. Capable from an early age of performing miracles, Benedetta’s impact on life in the community is immediate and momentous.

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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 and check out the racy poster below that speaks to the film’s erotic tenor.