[Books] Conclave - Richard Harris
Apr. 22nd, 2025 11:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yuuagoAs mentioned previously, after watching the film, I decided to check out Conclave by Robert Harris.
There are a few differences between the novel and the film, but mostly they're minor changes (Lawrence = Lomeli in the novel, Benitez is Filipino in the novel rather than Mexican, etc). I do seem to recall that the turtle scene wasn't in the book; I'm kind of surprised that they added that for the movie, but it was a lovely character moment and Benitez looks kind of like a romance film protagonist in that scene, so I'm certainly not complaining.
Some of the scenes were more effective in the movie than the novel, I think. But that could be due to acting and directorial choices and so on. The one that comes to mind is the saying grace scene after Benitez is introduced to everyone - in the novel, Benitez just says the whole thing, and that's that. But in the film, he pauses after saying the usual spiel, and everyone thinks he's finished and starts to sit down - but then he continues, thanking the Sisters and reminding the others of the impoverished etc, and the effect is very striking.
There are some differences between the novel and the film that I did find interesting, even if the change doesn't affect the overall plot.
So, in the movie, Benitez shows up and absolutely nobody has heard of him. He's a complete unknown!
In the novel, on the other hand, while nobody knows him personally, there are other cardinals who have heard of him. And not just one or two, but several - cardinals from the Philippines who describe him as basically legendary for his humanitarian work in Manila, more than one cardinal from Africa who have heard of his work in the Congo, etc. Vincent Benitez has a reputation for going into dangerous and impoverished areas and working with incredibly vulnerable people.
So, with that in mind, I would say that the movie's change has two effects. Firstly, in the novel, the final result of the conclave is more telegraphed: Of course they're going to eventually elect this saintly guy as pope! The question is how they're going to get there.
But in the movie, the question of who the pope will be is more up in the air - it's less clearly defined because while the audience becomes aware that Vincent Benitez is a great guy, he does not have the in-universe situation of a reputation preceding him. In the novel, it's not surprising that he received two votes in the first round; one can assume it was probably the two cardinals from the Philippines who were very excited to meet him. In the movie, it's like, who the fuck voted for this complete stranger?
The lack of connections in the film also allows for a stronger potential that maybe Benitez isn't who he says he is. In the book, the possibility that he is a fraud is raised, but this question is solved pretty quickly when his name is recognized. I would say that in the film the hint of the potential that he could be a fraud or a malefactor or someone with dark intentions - this lasts a little longer. He seems nice, he seems legit, but do we (the audience, but also Lawrence) know for sure that he is genuine? It took me a while, watching through, before I accepted that he was who he said he was.
I also feel like there are some differences in ~vibes~ between book!Benitez and movie!Benitez. Book!Benitez is more, for lack of a better word, moe. Dude trips over the hem of his clothes because it's too long, they couldn't find one that fit him properly. Seems shocked when he's confronted with the fact that he won the election, and had never picked out a pope!name in advance. In spite of his apparent tendency to run toward dangerous situations in order to carry out humanitarian work, he comes across as kind of naive, or at least naive when it comes to all the scheming etc. The monicker "Innocent" is fitting for him.
Movie!Benitez, on the other hand, is more... well, he's friendly and kind, but to me he also comes across as somewhat exasperated. He wants to complete the election and then leave - he likes Lawrence very much but he is very aware of all the scheming and corruption etc and wants no part in the election beyond casting his vote. He seems more... weary, more tired. Though I suppose a lot of it is due to how Carlos Diehz ended up playing him.
Overall, I wouldn't say that the novel is a must-read if you liked the film, but I enjoyed it a lot and I think that if you wanted more after watching the movie, it's a good direction to go. Plus you get more into Lomeli's (Lawrence)'s head, etc. On the reverse, I don't think I would actually recommend it without seeing the film first, because the film really is rather good and there are a few things that I thought it did better. (Though I might be biased.)
There are a few differences between the novel and the film, but mostly they're minor changes (Lawrence = Lomeli in the novel, Benitez is Filipino in the novel rather than Mexican, etc). I do seem to recall that the turtle scene wasn't in the book; I'm kind of surprised that they added that for the movie, but it was a lovely character moment and Benitez looks kind of like a romance film protagonist in that scene, so I'm certainly not complaining.
Some of the scenes were more effective in the movie than the novel, I think. But that could be due to acting and directorial choices and so on. The one that comes to mind is the saying grace scene after Benitez is introduced to everyone - in the novel, Benitez just says the whole thing, and that's that. But in the film, he pauses after saying the usual spiel, and everyone thinks he's finished and starts to sit down - but then he continues, thanking the Sisters and reminding the others of the impoverished etc, and the effect is very striking.
There are some differences between the novel and the film that I did find interesting, even if the change doesn't affect the overall plot.
So, in the movie, Benitez shows up and absolutely nobody has heard of him. He's a complete unknown!
In the novel, on the other hand, while nobody knows him personally, there are other cardinals who have heard of him. And not just one or two, but several - cardinals from the Philippines who describe him as basically legendary for his humanitarian work in Manila, more than one cardinal from Africa who have heard of his work in the Congo, etc. Vincent Benitez has a reputation for going into dangerous and impoverished areas and working with incredibly vulnerable people.
So, with that in mind, I would say that the movie's change has two effects. Firstly, in the novel, the final result of the conclave is more telegraphed: Of course they're going to eventually elect this saintly guy as pope! The question is how they're going to get there.
But in the movie, the question of who the pope will be is more up in the air - it's less clearly defined because while the audience becomes aware that Vincent Benitez is a great guy, he does not have the in-universe situation of a reputation preceding him. In the novel, it's not surprising that he received two votes in the first round; one can assume it was probably the two cardinals from the Philippines who were very excited to meet him. In the movie, it's like, who the fuck voted for this complete stranger?
The lack of connections in the film also allows for a stronger potential that maybe Benitez isn't who he says he is. In the book, the possibility that he is a fraud is raised, but this question is solved pretty quickly when his name is recognized. I would say that in the film the hint of the potential that he could be a fraud or a malefactor or someone with dark intentions - this lasts a little longer. He seems nice, he seems legit, but do we (the audience, but also Lawrence) know for sure that he is genuine? It took me a while, watching through, before I accepted that he was who he said he was.
I also feel like there are some differences in ~vibes~ between book!Benitez and movie!Benitez. Book!Benitez is more, for lack of a better word, moe. Dude trips over the hem of his clothes because it's too long, they couldn't find one that fit him properly. Seems shocked when he's confronted with the fact that he won the election, and had never picked out a pope!name in advance. In spite of his apparent tendency to run toward dangerous situations in order to carry out humanitarian work, he comes across as kind of naive, or at least naive when it comes to all the scheming etc. The monicker "Innocent" is fitting for him.
Movie!Benitez, on the other hand, is more... well, he's friendly and kind, but to me he also comes across as somewhat exasperated. He wants to complete the election and then leave - he likes Lawrence very much but he is very aware of all the scheming and corruption etc and wants no part in the election beyond casting his vote. He seems more... weary, more tired. Though I suppose a lot of it is due to how Carlos Diehz ended up playing him.
Overall, I wouldn't say that the novel is a must-read if you liked the film, but I enjoyed it a lot and I think that if you wanted more after watching the movie, it's a good direction to go. Plus you get more into Lomeli's (Lawrence)'s head, etc. On the reverse, I don't think I would actually recommend it without seeing the film first, because the film really is rather good and there are a few things that I thought it did better. (Though I might be biased.)
Yuu. Fic writer & book lover. M/Canada.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-23 11:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-04-23 11:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-04-24 10:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-04-24 11:44 pm (UTC)+ "Well, that sure is weird timing." (and then continue happily shipping cardinals)
+ Joking: "Man, the marketing for this movie is crazy" "They should elect (actor who was elected pope in conclave 2024) for pope in conclave 2025"
+ Curiosity/interest in following what will happen with Conclave 2025 due to preexisting interest in Conclave 2024
+ Additional interest/enthusiasm, plus lots of people watching Conclave 2024 for the first time because of Conclave 2025, and getting really into it
I have heard a few reports of negative reaction from people outside fandom who came across the cardinalshipping accidentally, but I have not encountered any of that personally.