Sex. Religion. Power. With these three ingredients in a movie, you can't go wrong. In 'Benedetta', the combination is the basis for a compelling story. Pretending to be miraculously blessed by God, the nun Benedetta starts a ruthless power struggle in her convent, meanwhile not holding back in fulfilling her carnal desires.
Instead of turning his attention on the person Benedetta, her motives and her psychology, director Paul Verhoeven takes the easy road. He is much more interested in her body than her mind. Female nudity is abundant and most of the nuns are pretty and sensual. There is also a lot of violence, because Benedetta has disturbing dreams and visions, resulting in some scenes that are completely over the top. The much written-about dildo, made out of a small statue of the virgin Mary, makes one doubt how seriously the film should be taken. Verhoeven doesn't miss any opportunity to please a thrill-seeking audience, instead of challenging his viewers. The story contains interesting elements, worth exploring, such as the contrast between Benedetta, who is well educated, and her lover Bartolomea, a peasant girl who can't read or write. But the only thing Verhoeven focuses on, is their mutual sexual attraction.
Don't get me wrong. Benedetta is a very entertaining film. It is exciting from start to finish and doesn't contain any dull moment. This is a film made by a craftsman who knows how to please an audience. But personally, I think the story could have been dealt with in a different way. Verhoeven's film is a succession of spectacular events, filmed in a spectacular way. I would have liked it more if it had been a bit less explicit, and more understated. But of course, understatement has never been one of Verhoeven's strong points.
