Review of 'Conclave'

With the recent death of Pope Francis the Vatican has to now find another pope in a process known as “Conclave”. This critically acclaimed film is based on Robert Harris' novel of the same name and describes how the (male) cardinals all come together at the Vatican where there are isolated from the public, meeting daily in the Sistine Chapel to vote over and over again for the new pope until a majority vote is achieved. In the film the loss of the pope triggers the conclave process led by Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) who has his own favourite, liberal candidate Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) who stands up against the hard-line traditionalist Cardinal Mendoza (Rony Kramer), the ambitious Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) and reactionary Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) who wants to abandon peaceful co-existence with other faiths. From the very beginning the process is thrown into confusion with the last minute addition of a Cardinal Benetiz (Carlos Diehz) now serving in Kabul who was secretly ordained by the pope years earlier. As outside events get more and more violent, Bellini suffering his own crisis of faith, candidate scheming, and secrets threaten the voting process itself. As the cardinals find themselves deadlocked there is yet another vote…

An interesting insight into the process that decides who will be one of the most powerful person in the world that largely focuses on the voting itself rather than the likely never-ending series of meetings that must go on behind the locked doors of the conclave. The process is largely dominated by men but it is nice to see that Berger manages to find a way to introduce the voice of the women in the nuns that sequestered alongside with head nun Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini) playing a pivotal role in the story. There are lots of surprises here including a particularly huge one right at the end that I have to admit I did not see coming that will likely shock many filmgoers. Of course, it does not entirely reflect reality with rivalries and backstabbing amplified for dramatic effect but many of the technical details are correct.

There is a powerhouse of talent here with Fiennes, Tucci and Lithgow putting on amazing performances in this dialogue-heavy film - They have a lot to work with with interesting characters and schemes-within-schemes aplenty. I have to admit I am a huge fan of anything that Stanley Tucci touches and here he also does not disappoint with a hard, cynical performance that is both troubled and forthright.

The setting of the film in the Vatican is truly amazing with incredible views of inside and outside of the buildings contrasted with the brilliant red of the cardinal's clothes often contrasting vividly on the screen as we see them move about the amazing scenery. Of course, they would never be able to film in the real Sistine Chapel or the Casa Santa Marta (where the cardinals are sequestered) so the filmmakers did an incredible job in recreating these locations in sets.

An interesting insight into the secretive process used to elect the pope…with a great deal of added tension and some surprises too. The film is quite slow paced and does seem to drag a lot throughout but it is a compelling and interesting story featuring some amazing acting talent and spectacular scenery.

Rating: “Nearly perfect, but not quite”

Review Date: 2025-05-04

Directed by: Edward Berger

Studio: Indian Paintbrush

Year: 2024

Length: 120 minutes

Genre: Melodrama

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20215234/