Benedetta: the film that's sparking controversy in Cannes Festival

Benedetta: the film by Paul Verhoeven has sparked a lot of controversy during the last few days.

The film portrays a couple of two lesbian nuns played by Virgine Efira and Daphne Patakia.

"Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy" is the book that serves as inspiration for the film.

The book by Judith C Brown tells the story of Benedetta

A young nun that has had spiritual visions since she was a kid.

In fact, these visions serve a greater purpose later in the film.

As well as she had a lesbian relationship with another nun.

The Cannes Film Festival returned a few days ago after a year of absence.

As part of the Festival's tradition, many movies have seen light.

The masterpiece by director Verhoeven had its trailer released last year.

And the public was waiting to watch it.

It didn't disappoint the public, and the critics have been very gentle with their reviews.

However, because of the topic it touches, the controversy has been louder than the criticism.

The director has received criticism from the most religious points of view.

He was questioned for putting so many sex scenes in his movies.

To which he responded:

I have not made it a point. It's a large percentage of the population. Homosexuality is part of life, so it should be part of our dramas. Why should I ignore that? It's there. A certain part of the population is bisexual, homosexual or transgender, that's the reality. I come back to it because it's a normal part of life.

Paul Verhoeven on his film "Benedetta"

As the source material is a book based on real-life events, the director and crew also defended against the accusations of blasphemy:

“I don’t really understand how you can blaspheme about something that happened, even in 1625"

Paul Verhoeven on a controversial sex scene involving a Virgin Mary statuette

The director argues how the world and the industry is seeing a new wave of puritanism in films.

This is extremely hypocritical, as the porn industry is one of the biggest in the entertainment world.