First film: Conclave. Saw it at local cinema which is strange because arty films are rarely shown there. Turned out it was an engrossing thriller.
It’s about the choice of a new pope, a choice made by cardinals from all over the world. The first shot of the film is a tracking shot of Ralph Fiennes who plays the dean who has to run the election, focused on the sound of his steps, and the clenching of his hands. The music is pounding and tense.
And it proves to be a difficult election because 15 minutes in it turns out that the frontrunner might be a crook and one by one likely candidates are proven unworthy.
I don’t think this was a great film but it was a tightly constructed thriller with a shock ending that keeps your attention throughout.
It has one line I remember. The dead pope had doubts one of his close colleagues says, no, not about God, but about the church. Says it all.
There was a lovely shot of an elderly cardinal scrolling anxiously through his phone in the courtyard. And Stanley Tucci as one of the contenders delivers some great lines about how the church must not go back to families having to have 10 children and gay people being demonised.
Yes, I think it was a good film, a good watch but perhaps undermined by the ending.
The first book I read was Good Material by Dolly Alderton. I’ve fallen in love with the Libby app which means I can get library books on my Ipad so very easily. This is a well written book set in London about a 35 year old comedian who can’t get over his break up. Great book but it went on and on and in the end I lost interest and returned the book to the library.
I’m back to Alphinse Daudet and Letters from My Windmill.