‘Conclave’ Review
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Jacek Koman, Bruno Novelli, Thomas Loibl, Brían F. O’Byrne, Isabella Rossellini | Written by Peter Straughan | Directed by Edward Berger
Following the BAFTA and Oscar success of All Quiet on the Western Front, reports kept coming out about director Edward Berger being attached to new projects (including a new Jason Bourne film.) Regardless of whether any of these come to fruition, a new Berger film has been released which solidifies why the filmmaker is currently so favoured – the impressive Conclave.
Adapted from Robert Harris’ novel of the same name, the story begins with the unexpected death of the Pope. Arriving in the wake of this news is Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), who is tasked with gathering cardinals from around the world to be locked inside the Vatican and elect the next Pope via a secret ballot. However, Lawrence soon finds himself investigating secrets and scandals relating to each main candidate.
The screenplay by Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Frank) utilises a structure familiar within murder-mystery tales, repurposed for this story of political manoeuvring within organized religion. As Lawrence investigates the secrets in greater detail, it feels like viewers are watching the Catholic Church’s answer to Sherlock Holmes at work. Central to it is Fiennes’ gripping portrayal as a man questioning his own faith, yet not letting that stop him from ensuring that whoever next becomes Pope is the right man for the role.
He is merely the tip of this finely acted iceberg, with the superb cast capturing the temptation that can feel too great when power is on offer. Regardless of where the candidates fall politically, they each have their own desire for the role which is barely hidden by their denials. It is clear how such denials mask their inner hopes, something evident as characters admit what name they would take if elected Pope.
The most fascinating element is how, with such power within reach, the Cardinals enact sneaky mind games on each other. Their hunger for power leads them to dig up the slightest bit of dirt, hoping to use it to unsettle their competition and sabotage their competitor’s chances. To see these holy men acting catty whilst divided into cliques makes this feel like a Papal version of Mean Girls, and highlights how some adults remain stuck within the cutthroat nature of adolescence, regardless of their position. It just leaves Bowling For Soup’s excellent song, ‘High School Never Ends,’ to feel ultimately correct.
Helping to shape this film’s identity are Stéphane Fontaine’s dynamite cinematography and Volker Bertelmann’s outstanding score, adding exceptionally to this investigative tale that is utterly gripping. Central to it are questions of faith and religion, adding thematic resonance to a narrative that still manages to surprise in ways that fit the story exceptionally. For anybody who feared that this could be a stuffy tale, that is far from the truth when Conclave is such an engrossing watch.
****½ 4.5/5
After a brief cinema run, Conclave is now available on digital platforms such as iTunes and Amazon Prime.
