Benedetta (Paul Verhoeven, 2021) | French Film Series

Part of the 2023 French Film Series:

Benedetta
(Paul Verhoeven, 2021, 131 min, France, French with English subtitles, DCP)

-- Introduced by Hélie Vigor (Romance Studies). Q&A to follow screening.

Based on true events, Benedetta unearths the story of Benedetta Carlini, a 17th-century nun in Tuscany who believed she saw visions of Christ and engaged in a sexual relationship with a fellow sister at her abbey. Directed by Paul Verhoeven (Robocop, Basic Instinct), this delirious, erotic, and violent melodrama is told with a boundless spirit for scandal, and unabashedly courts blasphemy as it unfolds its tale of religious hypocrisy. Wildly entertaining, Benedetta maintains both a feverish pitch and a fascinating ambiguity in its depiction of the miraculous and the mundane, the sacred and the profane. 

“True disciples will appreciate the outlandish craft and courage of Verhoeven’s best film in years: a feminist allegory about a woman establishing power in a patriarchal system — through faith, love and dildos. A funny, filthy, iconoclastic riot.” – Empire

“Mixing lurid, cynical exploitation with fluid storytelling and the principled irreverence of a satirist whose art always punches up against institutional dogma, [Verhoeven] scores a knockout.” – The Ringer

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Screen/Society screenings are free and open to the public.

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COVID-19 INFORMATION:

As we welcome audiences back for in-person screening events, we are prioritizing the health and safety of our extended community. Keeping each other safe during events will require collaboration and we are grateful for your support. Screen/Society and the Rubenstein Arts Center will adhere to all university, local, and state regulations on and off campus, which are subject to change on short notice depending on public health conditions.

Vaccination Status: We strongly encourage audience members to be fully vaccinated or have a recent negative PCR test before attending an event.  Duke University currently requires all students and employees to be vaccinated. More information on Duke University’s COVID-19 response.

Masking: Current Duke University guidelines for events apply to all presentations on campus.  As of 09/22/2022, masks are no longer mandatory for indoor screenings, though the policy could change again in the future. Masking remains one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others, and is strongly recommended, especially in indoor settings. We should respect an individual’s decision to wear a mask even if it is not required.

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Seating: For our screenings, seating is based on a first-come basis. We encourage everyone to be respectful during performances and maintain distancing as they feel comfortable.

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Hand Hygiene: Hand sanitizer stations are positioned throughout campus venues for your convenience.

Healthy Team: All employees and vendors are required to be symptom free before entering the building, as well as wear masks at all times, and frequently wash their hands during shifts.