Yeah I definitely saw this and was a little disappointed it didn’t amount to anything. I left it out because I wasn’t actually sure it was really there, or if I just read it into the film without serious evidence.
I had the exact same experience. I went with some family, so we were talking about it afterwards and I mentioned that I was kind of disappointed that this seduction of power element didn’t go anywhere and no one else even knew what I was talking about. But I think we’re right, it was definitely in there…we’re not crazy!
Ilandar@lemm.ee 1 week ago
I actually rewatched it tonight and I’ve changed my mind that the “power corrupts” theme doesn’t go anywhere. On a second viewing (where I could concentrate 100% without someone eating popcorn loudly in my ear) I thought there was actually quite a well rounded arc built around that theme,
spoiler
with the conclusion coming when Lawrence admits to Bellini he has considered his own papacy and finally succumbs by voting for himself. The suicide bombing occurs right as he casts his vote, and acts as a symbolic intervention from God in response to his sin. Aside from distraction in the cinema and the benefits of a second viewing, I think the reason I overlooked this the first time around is because it is immediately followed by the multiple plot twists involving Benitez, who until then hasn’t featured much in the film. Originally I thought his story didn’t really tie in with that of Lawrence, and I still think it is underdeveloped considering the ending of the film, but now I can see that if Benitez represents innocence then the ending of the film is really about Lawrence coming through a trial of his faith and the temptation of sin to rediscover this.
Zagorath@aussie.zone 1 week ago
Oh that’s an interesting point. I noticed the timing of that event and even thought similar, but didn’t quite reach that conclusion.
Spoilers
My thinking, in the moment, was that the bomb’s timing might lead the other cardinals to decide it was a message from god to not elect Lawrence. If it was meant to be taken as a conclusion to Lawrence’s own inner journey, I’m not sure it worked. We don’t even see him make the decision to vote for Benitez, that I recall, and I don’t think his reaction to Benitez’ monologue was particularly focused on. I should think those would be bare minimums to resolving the power corrupts theme.
Ilandar@lemm.ee 1 week ago
spoiler
The vote for Lawrence doesn’t go through because the terrorist attack interrupts it. He is essentially on a path to become Pope until the moment he attempts to cast his vote. Immediately following that, the cardinals have their emergency meeting in the theatre and Benitez makes his big speech which is part of what convinces a majority of his colleagues to vote for him, the other part being the hole in the window exposing them all to the outside world and reminding them that they are in service to God and his creations rather than themselves. As for why we don’t see Lawrence vote for Benitez, it’s because we’re not necessarily supposed to pick up on the significance of these events until after the plot twist where Benitez is elected. That’s also why they made his reaction to the speech ambiguous and why that election scene is shot in such a way that it initially looks as though Lawrence has won, and when he hasn’t, isn’t immediately clear who has (out of Tedesco and Benitez).