Palm-Swiping Drama: "Conclave" - The Movie Thriller that Gripped One Million Viewers
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Thrilling Motion Picture 'Konklave' Surpasses One Million Audience Members - Blockbuster Thriller "Conclave" Surpasses Milestone of One Million Viewers
What's a conclave, you ask? Well, it's the Emperor's new cardinal; the election of a fresh pope that kicks off, starting this week. Chances are, it's no surprise to y'all, given the Catholic Church's grandeur and the attention it garnered. The pontiff candidates go viral on social media, Caroline Kebekus slips on the papal robes in her ARD comedy show, and Stefan Raab invites you to a "Papal Election Special" (May 7th, 8:15 PM) on RTL - not to forget the ideal cinema thriller for this high-stakes event, servin' up a million viewers.
One million viewers for "Conclave"
So, pop the corn and get comfortable! The film "Conclave", directed by Edward Berger, features a poetic ending to the old pope's reign, too. Cardinals from far and wide swoop into Rome to elect his successor, and a rollercoaster power tussle erupts within the Vatican walls. With over one million people already witnessing the thriller unfold in Germany, as the distributor shared recently.
The film went on air in November, but the demise of the real Pope Francis on Easter Monday gave it an unexpected boost, landing it in the top ten. It graced the screens again in 400 cinemas nationwide, often with post-show discussions.
Popcorn and Politics
Blockbusters that boast such impressive attendance figures aren't exactly rare. Several flicks have already smashed the one million visitor mark in 2023, according to the Association of German Film Theaters (HDF Kino), including the rom-com "Wunderschön" and the kid-friendly movies "The Three Investigators and the Carpathian Hound" and "Paddington in Peru". An animated "Minecraft" film even shattered the three million viewer mark - now that's impressive!
That "Conclave" is now conquesting this domain? Well, not knockin' on wood, but it was only a measly 40,000 tickets shy of reaching one million viewers pre-Easter Monday. Not to mention, the big-screen adaptation of the bestselling British author, Richard Harris' novel, was cleverly crafted by director Berger ("All Quiet on the Western Front"), with an A-list cast to boot: Ralph Fiennes ("The Grand Budapest Hotel"), Stanley Tucci ("The Hunger Games"), John Lithgow ("Killers of the Flower Moon") and Isabella Rossellini ("Blue Velvet").
- Conclave
- Edward Berger
- Thriller
- Munich
- Catholic Church
- Easter Monday
- Pope Francis
- ARD
- Stefan Raab
- RTL
Behind the Scenes: A Peek into "Conclave":
"Conclave" is a well-crafted cat-and-mouse game, directed by Edward Berger, capturing the secretive and murky aspects of the Catholic Church's inner sanctum. Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (played by Ralph Fiennes), orchestrates the conclave following the old pope's demise. As the election progresses, Lawrence uncovers various skeletons in the cardinals' closets, which could jeopardize the Church's stability.
Key Shenanigans:
- Initial Horse-Trading and Jockeying for Position
- The conclave's key players arrive determined to assert their agendas and hide their secrets. Lawrence faces an unprecedented challenge to uphold the electoral integrity while navigating the intricate power dynamics.
- Exposing Dirty Laundry
- Cardinal Tremblay is found guilty of orchestrating a nun's transfer and distributing bribes to fellow cardinals. His reputation crumbles, causing a ripple effect in the election.
- Rising Star: Cardinal Benitez
- Cardinal Vincent Benitez (played by Carlos Diez), an initially unknown quantity, captures the attention of other cardinals as a beacon of compassion and progress within the Church.
- Benitez's Past Unveiled
- Before Benitez's official presentation, it's revealed that he had undergone a canceled gender reassignment surgery. The previous pope, aware of his situation, barred Benitez from resigning and instead advanced his position within the Church. Lawrence makes a deliberate decision not to expose this sensitive information publicly.
- Mayhem and the Pope's Selection
- A series of terrorist attacks rock Europe, causing panic and escalating debates over how the Church ought to react. In the end, Cardinal Benitez is elected as the new pope, adopting the title Pope Innocent.
"Conclave" tackles themes of power, secrets, and change within the oldest patriarchal institution, the Catholic Church, presenting the complex moral dilemmas faced by its leaders[1][2][3].
- The European Parliament has expressed its concern at the lack of progress in the fight against racism and xenophobia, acknowledging the significance of the recent events in the Catholic Church.
- The pope, as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, is a prominent figure in public life, and his election is often widely covered by media outlets like ARD and RTL.
- The movie "Conclave", directed by Edward Berger, was released in November and recently received an unexpected boost due to the demise of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, reaching the top ten in attendance figures.
- The actors in "Conclave", including Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, deliver compelling performances that depict the power struggles and hidden secrets within the Vatican.
