Conclave is an engrossing suspense thriller about the Catholic Church’s election behind closed doors, the most private and secretive of its functions. Where the College of Cardinals gathers in strict secrecy behind closed doors to elect a new pope. The film is based on a novel by a famous author Robert Harris published for the first time in 2016 and is critical of the worst tendencies of humanity when it’s pious men but of course, not women who take resort to bickering within their own ranks for power. Ralph Fiennes stars alongside a great ensemble of flawed personalities scheming in the spirit of Machiavelli. The plot of Conclave goes in truly unexpected directions while many of the wicked religious figures who are supposed to uphold the virtue of the faith get their comeuppance as they are depicted as in corrupt positions of power.
An awestruck cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) enters the subdued gently dimmed bedroom. The deceased pope, Bruno Novelli, is resting in a comfortable warm bed. He did know that the Holy Father had issues with his health, but he never did know to what extent the problems qualified as serious. Beside the bed monotonously sobs monsignor O’Malley, played by Brían F. O’Byrne and eyes are fixed on the floor, understanding the responsibilities weighing upon Lawrence. As Deacon of the college of cardinals, it is absolutely clear that Lawrence will have to call and summon the college cardinals from all over to the Vatican and the Conclave has to commence forthwith. There are background factors, but this at least does provide clear motivations of events. But first, however, Lawrence really needs to understand what has taken place.
In his investigation into the death of the Pope, Lawrence finds out that the two people who were with him before he died were Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) and Archbishop Woźniak (Jacek Koman). To make things worse, Tremblay is the most popular figure among the church people and most certainly would have succeeded the late pope, not knowing of what was about to take place. Woźniak, on the other hand, a pronounced alcoholic seems to be drinking heavily buoyed by grief already. He asks his mentor who is further distressed and stands up to leave, to clear the place behind before settling close to his mentor. He meets his crushing defeat. The past few months have been very mixed for Lawrence in terms of his faith. He reveals to his close friend; they believe to be a cardinal, Bellini (Stanley Tucci) that the former pope turned down his resignation letter a few weeks ago.
Bellini cautioned Lawrence that the church was in an unstable state. The pope was progressive and implemented changes which antagonized the conservative dissidents. One of these, the Italian cardinal Tedesco, must not be allowed to gain control. He would return Catholicism to the dark ages with Primitive ideologies. A circumspect Lawrence appreciates the fears that Bellini has but says that he cannot be biased in any particular way during the performance of the procedure. O’Malley informs Lawrence that the Pope has cut through the wires and out of the blue announced the election of a cardinal who was commanding since the war. The Archbishop of Kabul, Cardinal Benitez, also is to be present at the Conclave.
Hailing from Germany, Director Edward Berger (All My Loving, All Quiet on the Western Front) appeals the audience with his details in the imagery and character movement and infuses tension in the viewers by creating tension at multiple points. There is a marvelous ensemble that the director has which play out detailed conversations like it’s a stage play. Such conversations though are not being held for everyone to view inside the open region. Conspirators are literally placed all over the house, which is typical of this type of drama; in the stairwell, the hallway and even in the loo where they plan in secrecy. He employs extreme close-ups as a device to concentrate on the muted sounds. We witness windowed mouths and scowls as clouds of suspicion creep in. However, early supporters turn into betrayers as principles get tested.
Also critical, in Berger’s schematic exposition, are the film’s production design, banner score, and costumes. The viewer enjoys the Catholic Church’s elaborate rituals and ceremonies set against the accompaniment of a powerful violin. There is a feeling of tension and increasing dread when Lawrence is prepared to perform a Herculean task. The project unfolds in a series of terrifying and purposeful instalments each of which is rewired into the Conclave’s heavy film theatre. With a host of worrisome characters, everything is diabolical and treacherous.
Peter Straughan is one of the finest screenwriters you will ever come across (The Debt, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Wolf Hall) and makes it very easy for groups of characters to join the fray seamlessly. Conclave has a multitude of speaking parts but not a single wasted word throughout. Everyone does have something they want to do but it is normal to postpone doing anything and just huff and puff. At stake is the papacy but it is impossible to seize it with an head-on frontal attack. One could take a step back and see how cajoling, bargaining, and insinuation are entirely different. In challenging a rival, domination as an approach will be perceived as overly proud. The way to the throne, as the winner is supposed to appear, must be somehow meek and non-defiant. This creates the appearance of a call to duty rather than fierce competitiveness.
Conclave humbles a barbed hand that seeks to portray spiritual double standards. Set in man’s frailty, his bastards of immorality and vice Cardinal is not left out to sin. They sin like every human being and are shameless enough to consider sinners and unworthy before God those who do not have their beliefs. This picture quite extraordinarily criticizes the Christianity and the catholic church view towards those who do not support its policies and more importantly, the absence of female presence in church politics. The harsh clashing of the ancient beliefs and the evolution of morals will come as a shocker to the conservatives. It’s a bombshell and totally shocking. But I do wish they appreciate its sound reasoning. The key point in this case is to understand that worshipping such false prophets, because of their position or any authority granted to them is incorrect. True faith is demonstrated in action through selfless service.
Conclave is rather a tough movie to go through as one has to be patient. This is not some ten page’s screen play followed by a bang. But this one will never be described as dull and the pace does not slack throughout the movie which is just over two hours. This definitely has incredible actors the type of which the world has never seen, and their presence comes out loud and clear that this’s a jewel.
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