"Conclave", a thrilling story of twists and turns [Enokido Ichiro's Films Akasatana Vol.74]

"The Conclave" (24) is a first-class mystery movie. I want to emphasize that point. Just because it is set in the Vatican does not mean that there are difficult theological debates. The content is a very human drama. "Changes in the leadership of large organizations" are always interesting, aren't they? Conservatives and reformists clash, shaking and undermining each other, and secretly trying to bring in a third party. That is the Roman Catholic Church, so it is a large organization, a large organization, an absolute organization that transcends time and space, with a global reach that is engraved in history. It is a huge deal. A game of deception and truth takes place over "Who will be the next Pope?" This is a superb mystery work that won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay this year.

I thought it was a very cinematic subject. Everyone knows it exists, but no one knows what goes on inside the Sistine Chapel. The idea is to show the actual conclave (Conclave) on the screen. Well, most of the actors, including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow, are middle-aged men. With the exception of Isabella Rossellini, it's hard to say that the casting is particularly glamorous. That's inevitable. But the feeling of all the actors lined up is also a set in a sense. At first glance, it's a special world.

The staff's work to create a "unique world at first sight" is amazing. As expected, they don't lend out the Sistine Chapel for location shooting. A production designer named Susie Davies was in charge of art design and built the set inside the chapel, but it looks just like the real thing. Cardinals from parishes around the world gather, celebrate mass, and move on to the conclave (the Conclave, which means "locked" in Latin). If it looked fake, it would be a no-go. All energy was focused on the reality of that. I think it's only when that happens that the drama can begin. Seeing is believing. Be impressed by the number of actors and the art set. It's so captivating.

"Conclave" © 2024 Conclave Distribution, LLC.

But the conclave is an amazing ritual or custom. I first learned about it through TV news when St. Paul VI died in 1978. It was on the TV at a friend's boarding house in my student days. They let you know whether the next pope has been decided or not by the color of the smoke rising. I think it was called a "stove." If a new pope is elected, white smoke appears, and if he has not yet been elected, black smoke appears. I'm sure the news at that time was black smoke. My friend, who was a year older than me and knew a lot, said, "Oh, they haven't decided yet. It's not a joke, but it's really a test of endurance." We were young people, so we laughed at the anachronism of letting you know the status of the election by the color of smoke.

However, it was something that cannot be described in a single word: anachronism. I saw the same scene on the news when St. John Paul II died in 2005, and when Benedict XVI retired in 2013. Even in the lifetime of an individual, that "appeared anachronism" continues to loop. They hate the intervention of the secular world and repeat "locked" customs. It is with the history of Catholicism. It is almost a word for "eternity."

The veiled drama begins with the "death of the Pope." In other words, the "death of the Pope" and the "birth of a new Pope" are structured in an infinite loop. What's touching is that, like the succession to the throne, the next candidate for Pope is not decided in advance. The drama starts to move all at once with the "death of the Pope." Well, of course, there is probably some groundwork and majority maneuvering before that, but in terms of dynamism, it starts with the "death of the Pope." I can't go into the details here, but the clash between conservatives and reformists is a sight to behold.

What I found interesting was that in the movie, the "will of the deceased Pope" was almost brought up. Since they were not warlords, I don't think it would be "the will of the Lord", but I see, I was impressed that there was such persuasive material. When the cardinals gathered and put their heads together to decide on an election, the will of the previous pope (who had no votes because he was deceased) was mentioned. Well, in reality, the details are shrouded in mystery and cannot be known to the secular world, but at least in the movie, the question of "who last saw him" becomes an issue. It's so human, isn't it?

The story takes many twists and turns from the beginning, making it very thrilling. There are so many elements that it's amazing how much they managed to pack in. It's a masterpiece without question. I want to see it again at the cinema.

Text: Ichiro Enoki

Born in 1959. Born in Akita Prefecture. Debuted in a commercial magazine with ``Takarajima'' in 1980 while studying at Chuo University. Since then, he has serialized columns and essays in various magazines, and continues to this day. Also active on radio and television. Twitter @ichiroenokido

Pre-order "The Conclave" now:

"The Conclave"

Now showing nationwide at TOHO Cinemas Chanter and other theaters

Distribution: Kino Films

© 2024 Conclave Distribution, LLC.