Backbiting 'Conclave' Finds a Surprise Fandom

If these fictional clerics had a TV show, it'd be called 'Survivor: Vatican City.'

- JOHN JURGENSEN

In the movie "Conclave," a group of Catholic cardinals have to live in a bubble together until they elect a new pope. They side-eye each other, backbite, form alliances and scheme to secure votes for themselves or block rivals. If these fictional clerics had a TV show, it'd be called "The Real Housewives of Rome" or "Survivor: Vatican City."

At least that's one take on the film by some of its biggest fans. In a twisty drama exploring Catholic faith and human failings, this audience has recognized some of the pettiness, I'm-not-here-to-makefriends ambition and eliminationround pressure that they know and love from reality television.

And they've paid tribute in the appropriate way - with memes. Online, the movie's most celebrated shot is that of an Italian cardinal serving attitude as he puffs on a vape.

None of this was planned or predicted by the creators of "Conclave," but they're here for it. "That people are making cattiness out of it, I find that hugely entertaining," says director Edward Berger.