Wowzers! This is a terrific movie. If you’re writing a thriller (any sub-genre), or a story with nuanced and complex characters, this episode is for you. In fact, CONCLAVE is one of the movies we recommend you put on your short list of films to study because, seriously, you can learn about almost any aspect of storytelling from it. It’s so good that I’m not even angry that the bad guy turns out to be a Canadian – lol! -V.
(The following summary was generated by A.I.)
In this episode of Story Nerd, we dive deep into the intricate layers of the film Conclave, directed by Edward Berger and based on Robert Harris’s novel. Join Melanie Hill and Valerie Francis as they dissect the speech in praise of the villain, exploring how the film’s nuanced characters challenge traditional notions of good and evil. With Ralph Fiennes portraying the protagonist Dean Lawrence, we discuss the multiple antagonists who blur moral lines, including Tremblay and Tedesco, and how their complex motivations drive the narrative forward. Valerie shares insights on the importance of the antagonist’s superiority and how it shapes the protagonist’s journey, while Melanie examines the concept of constant characters and the subtle shifts in their beliefs throughout the story. This episode is packed with valuable lessons for writers looking to craft compelling, multi-dimensional characters and understand the mechanics of storytelling. Don’t miss it!