Amidst the tumultuous 2024 presidential race, the last thing anybody would want is another dramatic election story. However, director Edward Berger’s Catholic mystery-thriller takes political scandal and turns it on its head in his latest film, Conclave, which details the sacred and delicate process of choosing a new pope. All the more shocking, it’s only rated PG. Though the description sounds unassuming, Conclave is quite a rollercoaster, and despite its slow pace, it is an entertaining, yet simple, deconstruction of the institution.
Conclave, based on the novel by Robert Harris, follows Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), who has such an immense responsibility of leading the next papal election. Alongside him stands many notable candidates, who tend to reflect real-life political figures. There’s Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), who aims to reverse the progress the church had made in recent years; Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), who stands for everything Tedesco is against; Cardinal Tremblay, who’s a neutral, conservative, “least worst” candidate; and Cardinal Adeyemi, who stands socially conservative. Each campaigning individual has their fair share of controversy. Between the hushed voices and gentle whispers within the Sistine Chapel, stories unravel and secrets get exposed, even some kept by the late pope himself.
Even with the many story elements and characters, it is quite simple to follow once the plot gets going. That being said, the pacing can be tedious at times but that could be a result of the movie’s overall tone. Instead of loud, dramatic scenes–though there are definitely a few present–the dialogue and plot favor subdued and intimate conversations. While certain audiences may appreciate that, it sometimes seemed sleepy and disinterested.
The simplicity of Conclave’s plot means there is extra room for its other elements to shine, and they do. While the audience is only shown a handful of locations, each backdrop is grand and foreboding, and their neutral palette makes the beautiful, vibrant religious garb stand out. Conclave’s cinematography is the strongest, most defining feature. Every scene is undoubtedly gorgeous. Lighting does a lot of the work as well, creating ominous silhouettes and mood-setting shots.
Along with the phenomenal cinematography, the performances are great, especially Ralph Finnes. His portrayal of Cardinal Lawrence is perfectly weary and jaded, but still has a level of ambition that drives his character to the next level. . However, that doesn’t lessen the rest of the cast. Each actor had a great understanding of their characters, which made everything feel much more alive (and dramatic).
Conclave has proven itself to be a surprisingly entertaining, yet philosophical film, despite how quiet and slow the plot may feel. The already good acting was only amplified by the stunning cinematography, set and clothing design. This movie is a wonderful example of how to adapt a book into a film format while maintaining its substance. Even with its somewhat controversial plot and ending, this movie can be enjoyed by just about anyone.
Conclave earns a 4/5 star rating.
