‘Conclave’ movie review: Ralph Fiennes is the tortured soul in this exploration of faith

A still from ‘Conclave’
| Photo Credit: Focus Features

There is a grand yet simple beauty to Conclave, which bristles with contrary images. There are the Renaissance paintings and sculptures, the weathered stones from an earlier time, the scarlet and purple of the Cardinals’ and bishops’ robes, and the distinctly analogue tilt to the election of the new Pope, as well as a priest looking at his smart phone and technicians looking for ways to smother bugging devices, that news channels are thinking up.  

Based on Robert Harris’ 2016 novel, Conclave starts with the death of the Pope. The responsibility of running the conclave to elect a new pope falls on the dean of the College of Cardinals, Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes). The four front runners are an American liberal, Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci), an Italian traditionalist, Goffredo Tedesco, (Sergio Castellitto), a Canadian moderate, Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow), and a Nigerian conservative, Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati).  

Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz), the archbishop of Kabul, who also served in the Congo and Baghdad, was named Cardinal by the late pope in pectore (in secret) a year ago, might be a wild card. Lawrence opens the conclave with a homily where he underlines the importance of doubt in faith. Certainty, he says, “is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance. Even Christ was not certain at the end.” This speech seems to signal Lawrence’s papal ambitions however much he denies it.  

As the conclave progresses over three days and seven ballots, the favourites are revealed to have the legendary feet of clay. From sins of the flesh to greed and ambition, they are all on display even as Lawrence looks into his heart and admits to his ambition by saying his chosen papal name is John. 

While there is a reality show-sheen to the proceedings and the final mystery might not be as earth shattering as it is built up to be, Conclave is a beautifully mounted effective thriller, which keeps one rivetted till the last frame. 

A still from ‘Conclave’
| Photo Credit:
Focus Features

Each one of its eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Costume Design and Production Design are well deserved. Ralph Fiennes earns his Best Actor nod by imbuing Lawrence with faith, vulnerability, intelligence, courage and conviction, mainly through his haunted eyes and furrowed brow. In the mainly male cast, Isabella Rossellini, who got a supporting actress nomination, makes her presence felt as Sister Agnes, the housekeeper and caterer. 

The gorgeously detailed costumes underline the importance of colours in a presentation. And the frames, whether of a sea of white umbrellas sheltering red clad Cardinals, or a small figures beneath immense walls and sweeping staircases, or the immaculately set tables are stunning.  

While the pulpy Angels & Demons (2009) based on the Dan Brown novel with Ewan McGregor as a dapper Camerlengo, also dealt with the conclave, the Oscar-winning Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) has fashioned a serenely gripping ride through one of the most ancient election processes of all time.   

Conclave is currently running in theatres