Catholic Protesters Gather Outside NYFF Premiere of Paul Verhoeven’s Lesbian Nun Drama ‘Benedetta’

Catholic protesters descended on Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the New York Film Festival premiere of Paul Verhoeven’s scandalous lesbian nun drama “Benedetta.” The movie, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to shock and acclaim, stars Virginie Efira as Benedetta Carlini, a novice nun in the 17th century who joins an Italian convent and has a lesbian love affair with another nun.IFC Films, which opens the “Basic Instinct” and “Elle” director’s latest on December 3 stateside, did not immediately reply to IndieWire’s request for comment.

Festival attendees shared news and photos of the protest on Twitter (see below).“They are upset about its ‘blasphemous’ portrayal of nuns and Catholicism.

They’re repeatedly saying Hail Marys into megaphones,” said IndieWire’s Managing Editor Christian Blauvelt.

Protesters, some of whom were seen playing drums and bagpipes, appear to be part of a group called America Needs Fatima.

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