‘conclave’ Prime Release Mirrors Vatican Events Following Pope Francis Death

[KENNEDY FELTON]

THEY SAY ART IMITATES LIFE… AND SOMETIMES – STREAMING SCHEDULES DO TOO.

AS THE WORLD MOURNS THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS… “CONCLAVE” JUST LANDED ON PRIME VIDEO TUESDAY – DROPPING AMID REAL-WORLD EVENTS UNFOLDING IN ROME.

WHILE CATHOLICS WAIT TO SEE WHO WILL BE ELECTED THE NEXT POPE – WITH SOME EVEN PLACING BETS ONLINE – THE OSCAR WINNING THRILLER TAKES VIEWERS INSIDE THAT EXACT PROCESS.

DIRECTOR EDWARD BERGER LEADS A STAR-STUDDED CAST—RALPH FIENNES (RAYF FINES), STANLEY TUCCI, JOHN LITHGOW, AND ISABELLA ROSSELLINI—THROUGH A FICTIONALIZED LOOK AT THE SECRETIVE VATICAN CONCLAVE.

GOOGLE TRENDS SHOW AN UPTICK IN “CONCLAVE” SEARCHES ON APRIL 21—THE SAME DAY POPE FRANCIS PASSED AWAY.

AND ONLINE, USERS WERE QUICK TO CONNECT THE TIMING… WITH ONE SNARKY POST READING – “The trading for this movie is crazy” 

AND ANOTHER PLAYFULLY ASKING GROK – X’S AI CHATBOT – IF THE POPE DIED JUST TO BOOST THE MOVIE.

BUT IT’S ALL A COINCIDENCE.

THE CAST AND CREW SIGNED ON BACK IN 20-22… AND SCREEN RANT REPORTS THE FILM WAS ACTUALLY SCHEDULED TO DROP ON APRIL 13… BEFORE ANY REAL LIFE EVENTS UNFOLDED.

AND AS FOR ACCURACY?

“CONCLAVE” IS HISTORICALLY INSPIRED BUT NOT A DOCUMENTARY.

STILL… AUTHOR ROBERT HARRIS TOLD THE NEW YORK TIMES THAT POPE FRANCIS WAS IN MIND WHEN WRITING THE NOVEL IT’S BASED ON.

THE FILM CAPTURES SEVERAL REAL ELEMENTS – FROM THE SISTINE CHAPEL SETTING… TO CARDINALS TAKING A VOW OF SECRECY… TO THE BLACK OR WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE SISTINE CHAPEL ROOF SIGNALING WHETHER A NEW POPE HAS BEEN CHOSEN.

IN REAL LIFE, CARDINALS WILL GATHER WITHIN 15 TO 20 DAYS TO CAST SECRET BALLOTS. HOWEVER – UNLIKE IN THE FILM… CARDINALS WHO HAVE BEEN NAMED IN SECRET CANNOT PARTICIPATE.

SO WHILE THE MOVIE MAY TAKE SOME CREATIVE LIBERTIES, THE TIMING…  AND THE GLOBAL FASCINATION… FEELS UNDENIABLY REAL FOR SOME.