By James Kent
Catholicism and its many mysteries and secret rituals are on full display in “Conclave” (in theaters and on-demand.) The pope is dead. And the process of transferring the powers of God from one human vessel to another begins.
Depending on one’s faith and knowledge of the subject, that process, the subject of “Conclave,” based on the 2016 novel by suspense author Robert Harris, gets a thorough and detailed examination through the expert direction of a German film director that may come as a surprise for some to learn the details of choosing a successor to the pontiff of all pontiffs. All the rituals and practices are in play here, and those details are an added layer to the story that proves undeniably fascinating, even for those who aren’t of the Catholic persuasion.
In lesser hands, those details could prove tedious, but the screenplay by Peter Staughan is a crackling yarn that keeps the intrigue moving as the high-pressure stakes game of jockeying for loyalty and votes continues.
Ralph Fiennes gets a role he can sink his acting teeth into as Cardinal Lawrence, an unambitious server of the faith, who, according to the recently passed pope, is an excellent manager. Therefore, it falls upon him to run the conclave, where the College of Cardinals gather at the Vatican to cast ballots, in secret, to choose the next pope.
The atmospheric cinematography by Stéphane Fontaine, an intense score from Volker Bertelmann, and the brilliant recreations of the Vatican from production designer Suzie Davies all serve director Berger’s vision to take this (what is most assuredly not an exciting or dramatic process) and turn it into a high-stakes game of power for the future direction of the Catholic church.
There are groups, or factions, within this gathering of cardinals who each has a man who they seek to wear the Papal tiara. Fiennes’ Lawrence backs the more liberal-minded Bellini, played by Stanley Tucci. The moderate but fiercely political and cunning Cardinal Tremblay, played by John Lithgow, it appears there isn’t a length he won’t go to for the job. And as the votes continue, Fiennes begins to uncover just how far those ambitions of Tremblay’s are willing to take him.
There are the more conservative factions of the cardinals, each with its champion, the Italian traditionalist Cardinal Tedesco, and the popular, although arch-conservative, Nigerian candidate, Cardinal Adeyemi. Lawrence, himself, unexpectedly, and to the detriment of votes for his friend Bellini, receives a handful of votes that grows with each voting cycle. And then, there is the wild card.
A new cardinal, Cardinal Benitez, a Mexican archbishop, appears at the conclave. The pope recently and secretly sent him to Kabul. This mystery man receives one vote at the first session and continues to garner support throughout the proceedings.
It would be a sin (wink, wink) to spoil all of the details of this entertaining thriller, but I had a fun time going through the layers of plot twists through the final reveal. Isabella Rossellini plays an essential role as the cardinals’ head caterer and housekeeper, Sister Agnes. She remains mainly on the sidelines, observing and listening, but becomes a critical character late in the film during one of the brewing scandals emerging at the conclave.
Thematically, the story “Conclave” tells us that man’s sin extends to men of the cloth, and none of these cardinals is innocent. If one looks carefully enough, each of them has flaws and skeletons in his closet. Whoever takes the position as the holiest Catholic of them all likely does so with things in the past that are best kept secret. And those secrets are what this film has the most fun uncovering. Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence goes on a journey and is somewhat in a crisis of faith, trying to do the right thing while getting caught up in his unintentional quest for the job. And when the dust settles, the person who does get the job may turn out to possess the biggest secrets of them all.
There have already been lots of online debates regarding the events of the movie’s final act. And again, I decline to spoil or even hint at those twists and reveals. Let the debaters quarrel. I’ll just say that this story about trying to push one’s candidate over the goalpost is two hours of delight that reminds one of the sophisticated adult thrillers that used to pack the multiplexes not so long ago, and if first-rate entertainment is what you seek, “Conclave” is worth your time.
James Kent is the publisher’s assistant at The Mountain Times and is the co-host of the “Stuff We’ve Seen” podcast at stuffweveseen.com.
