17th-century Tuscany, Italy. As the sinister threat of the Plague looms over Europe, the sincerely devout eight-year-old novice, Benedetta Carlini, is brought into the Theatine Convent of the Mother of God in Pescia as a bride for Jesus Christ. Eighteen long years later, as ominous whispers of disputable miracles scandalise the cloistered sisters, a test of faith awaits deeply pious Benedetta in the shape of bruised, abused, and earthly Bartolomea: a young woman fleeing her violent father. Now, while under the vigilant eye of cynical Abbess Felicita, fleeting glimpses of the forbidden fruit invite a tentative intimacy, ungovernable desires, and intense diabolical obsessions in, and suddenly, the holy signs of faith are manifest in Sister Benedetta’s body. But, few can wrestle with guilt and emerge unscathed. Is there an escape from sin when the flesh is the enemy?—Nick Riganas
Production ended November 2018, and the film was initially scheduled for release at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, but in December 2018, director Paul Verhoeven had to undergo surgery for a hip injury suffered due to the set’s location, which involved lots of hills and climbing. Post-production in Amsterdam had to be delayed until June 2019 to allow time for him to recover from his surgery. However, subsequent complications from pain medication caused an intestinal obstruction that ended in a life-threatening colon perforation; fortunately, Verhoeven’s wife urged him to go to the hospital in time. Verhoeven and producer Saïd Ben Saïd agreed to delay the release to 2020 in order for Verhoeven to recover, and be fully present during the post-production process. Verhoeven still credits his editor Job ter Burg for finishing much of the film on his own while he himself was recovering and unable to attend. Eventually, the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic caused the movie to be delayed for another year.
