Director Edward Berger, who made one of the best films of 2022 with a lively adaptation of All is quiet on the Western Frontenrichingly transitions to a film set almost entirely inside the Vatican. Conclaveadapted from Robert Harris’ popular novel, demonstrates Berger’s versatility and also offers one of the best roles of his career to Ralph Fiennes, who is supported by an expert ensemble.
The recent Oscar nominated film The two popes also took us to the Vatican to examine the true story of the rise of Pope Francis (played by Jonathan Pryce). That was essentially a docudrama, whereas this film is pure fictional speculation about the behind-the-scenes machinations involved in choosing a new pope after the death of the previous pontiff. Fiennes plays the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who is tasked with overseeing the election.
Conclave
The essentials
A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at religious power.
Place: Telluride Film Festival
Casting: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini
Director: Edward Berger
Screenwriter: Pierre Straughan
2 hours
Screenwriter Peter Straughan (Mole Spy Soldier) keeps the story moving quickly. A series of intriguing characters support Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence. He feels a close connection to an American cardinal, charmingly played by Stanley Tucci. Both men are wary of the Canadian cardinal played by John Lithgow, who is campaigning fervently to become the next pope but seems motivated more by personal ambition than humanitarian or spiritual impulses.
One surprising candidate is a Nigerian cardinal, played by Lucian Msamati, and many in the Vatican see possibilities in electing the first African pope. But there are other, more conservative cardinals, such as the Italian candidate, played by Sergio Castellito, who would do almost anything to prevent this upstart from dismantling the European hierarchy.
And then there is a mysterious newcomer from Kabul, played by Carlos Diehz. None of the cardinals knew of the priest, who was supposedly invited to Rome by the former pope before his death. And many of them are wary of a Catholic priest from a predominantly Muslim part of the world. Old prejudices die hard.
As the power plays intensify, a nun played by Isabella Rossellini is revealed to have a significant role in challenging the male hierarchy of the Catholic Church. The film raises timely questions about sexual and racial bias within organized religion, while acknowledging the sex scandals that have rocked the Church in recent years.
Fiennes delivers a superb performance as a man who begins to doubt his faith in the wake of all these scandals, and when he emerges as a leading contender for the papacy, his crisis of conscience intensifies.
