Film Review: Conclave
Conclave at LFF 2024
A talky film about electing the new Pope, on paper, probably wouldn’t guarantee audiences running to the cinema on a Friday night. But then, a year ago, that might also have been said about a billion dollar box office juggernaut called Oppenheimer.
Conclave is unlikely to reach those dizzy heights but expect it to pull in a bigger audience than might have been anticipated, when awards season propels it into the ‘must see’ category.
Leading the awards contenders will be Ralph Fiennes striding, one hopes, towards his long overdue Oscar. Robbed for his chilling turn as a Nazi commandant in Schindler’s List, missing out for The English Patient and overlooked for The Grand Budapest Hotel as well as many stellar supporting roles, this may be his Cillian Murphy moment. It will be well deserved, if it happens.
Fiennes is cardinal Thomas Lawrence, unexpectedly called upon to put together a conclave, to elect a new pope when the sitting Holy Father dies. We first see Lawrence striding along the corridors of the Vatican, battered briefcase in one hand, the other clenched tightly in a tense fist. The death and the new responsibility are unexpected and unwanted. Lawrence, amidst a personal spiritual crisis was looking to step down and live differently.
Instead, he’s thrust into a political maelstrom. For all the talk of spiritual calling and piety, the main candidates for the job are as ambitious, slippery and willing to play dirty as anyone running for a presidency.
There’s Lawrence’s personal choice, the liberal American, Bellini (Stanley Tucci), who wants the church to continue along the progressive lines of the dead pope. He’s primarily standing to keep out the traditional Italian Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) who wants the papacy to embrace the old values again. The ambitious American Tremblay (John Lithgow), has the hunger for power and the popular Nigerian Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) is looking to become the first black Pope but will his orthodox views on sexuality be his undoing? And then, there’s a mysterious, last minute contender called Benitez (Carlos Diehz),from the church in Kabul.
The intrigue, suspense, plot twists, double crossing and tension make for an electric tension as all masterfully dialed up to the highest levels as the contenders and their supporters fight for the highest position in the Catholic Church and one of the most high profile in the world.
Based on the compelling book by Robert Harris, this is a superb screen adaptation, helmed expertly by All Quiet on the Western Front’s Edward Berger.
The ultra secretive workings of a conclave are fascinating to learn about and see and the splendour of the buildings in which it works offer visual magnificence.
Fiennes is commanding as Lawrence, his inner turmoil etched across his face and set deep in his eyes. His personal tension, as he navigates the political machinations of those around him and his own sense of morality and purpose, is palpable.
His central figure is supported by a wealth of of great performances around him.
Isabella Rossellini as a senior nun (looking just like her mother, Ingrid Bergman) is underused and topical but controversial themes are raised but not explored but these are small quibbles, overall.
Conclave is definitely worth voting for.
4/5