‘Conclave’ Costume Designer Lisy Christl on Why the Cardinal’s Crosses Were an Important Character Detail
variety.comJazz Tangcay Artisans Editor “Conclave” costume designer Lisy Christl made some changes to the vestments worn by the Catholic cardinals, whose look in real life is quickly recognizable, to bring them to the screen.
The first change: the fabric. Christl opted for a heavier wool than what is used in the real-life clothing. The other big modification was to the standard red.
For the film, Christl explains, “I went to a costume house in Rome, and they gave me an original robe. I showed it to [director] Edward Berger and our DP (Stéphane Fontaine) and said, ‘If you look at this for two hours, it might be difficult on your eyes.’” Christl, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for “Anonymous,” looked at older robes dating back to the 15th century through the 1960s and noted they were darker.
She chose that darker shade because it would read better on camera. The film, currently in theaters, revolves around the cardinals gathering in Rome to elect a new pope.
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