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Edward Berger said he owed his crew a vacation after ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, his award winning (and well-decorated at that) 2022 film adaptation of the book of the same name. Enter: ‘Conclave’, the Vatican political thriller starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci that is rocking awards season. A beautiful marriage of story, acting, design, and directing, every detail is held in great respect, building out the highest-of-pressure secretive world of the Papal conclave, its internal power struggles, and its impact on the world. They’re electing the most famous man in the world, after all.
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In the Name of the Father…
The heavenly father has passed, and a conclave must be convened to select the next pope. It falls to cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), dean of the conclave, to administer the traditional process of all of the cardinals of the church electing the next pope. An immediate power struggle emerges between the old church and the new, led by Italian cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) of the old guard and American cardinal Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci) of the new. On top of that, details about the late pope’s final days threaten to alter the course of history, not to mention a new cardinal ordained in secret (Carlos Diehz) arriving unannounced, plus the sisters of the Vatican led by Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini) and their own internal politics. As factions bicker within the sequestered conclave, the world outside is not at peace, and the church is forced to face the music.
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The Son(s and Daughters)…
Every character seems to have a deep, seething resentment of what’s going on around them, but every actor approaches this fire inside in a unique way, bringing each characters’ motivations and individual purpose to light in just the right way and at just the right time. Lawrence didn’t think the responsibility of this conclave would ever fall to him, and he resents his power; Bellini’s hatred is directed at the proponents of the dead language, while Tedesco detests the supporters of the late pope’s progress. This burning is exemplified by none so well as Rossellini as Sister Agnes, a woman and a nun, and therefore expected of so much while remaining invisible. She and her order are really making the world go round, and the moment she snaps is one of the highlights of the entire film. It’s hard to imagine any other cast making ‘Conclave’ work as well as it does. Every actor absolutely lights the screen on fire with their own tinder and accelerants.
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And the Holy Ghost…
The Catholic church has been criticized for millenia for its excess and sumptuousness, and though ‘Conclave’ is set right smack in the center of the Catholic universe, there is such restraint in how the story was captured. Yes thes cardinals cast their votes in the Sistine Chapel, painted by one of the greatest artists of all time, surrounded by the larger-than-life architecture of St. Peter’s Basilica, but the modern church is desperately trying to change… at least some of its members are. When they’re not casting the most important votes of their lives, they’re holed up in pretty modest quarters, drop ceiling rooms devoid of color that serve as political pressure cookers. We as the audience can appreciate grand artistic marvels on screen, but the conclave has no time to marvel when there’s a war brewing just below the surface, let alone the one emerging beyond their walled city. Berger’s choice to film in Rome is an impactful one, and though the Vatican doesn’t allow productions to film on location, the recreation of its interior is conveyed beautifully in the final product. Exterior locations were chosen extremely well to communicate the scale of the church’s physical presence, dwarfing the mere men tasked with its future. The push and pull is tangible and incredibly impactful, amplifying the story and making sure it strikes home.
I must mention the music. Having collaborated with Berger on ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, Volker Bertelmann brought the vision to life with a beautiful, restrained score, contained within itself the same way the cardinals are trapped in the process of the papal conclave. Emulating church music or Gregorian chant is low hanging fruit, but it wouldn’t convey the message of the film at all; thin out the orchestra to minimal ensemble of strings, and let each individual musician vie for the spotlight.
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…Amen.
Having played at the Toronto International Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival, and having made positive waves at both, ‘Conclave’ has emerged as an awards season frontrunner, and for good reason. The twist at the end, though arguably not necessary to drive ‘Conclave’ home, is handled with such care. There are things the church has historically failed to address, and there are things the church is overly concerned with. Members are often pushed to leave on both fronts. Throughout ‘Conclave’, Lawrence is dealing with the former. When he finally comes across the latter, he decides to let go, and it makes for a wonderful and thought-provoking ending. Since the movie hit the big screen, there have been whispers of Best Actor and Supporting nominations for Fiennes and Tucci, respectively, and reports of applause during Rossellini’s best scene. Even the religious leaders who don’t agree with the film’s position but have commented publicly have lauded the performances universally. Though ‘Conclave’ may not win the weekend at the box office, let’s not be surprised if it wins the season. Not the battle, but the war.
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Abigail Whitehurst is an entertainment professional and writer for Hollywood Insider based in Los Angeles, CA. Having lived all over the world as part of a military family and having pursued a bachelors of music, she brings a unique outlook to the entertainment industry. A life-long learner and researcher, Abigail is pursuing her masters in entertainment management. She strives to write through the lenses of context, analysis, and Hollywood Insider’s values to bring a fresh perspective to industry trends, entertainment business, and new film and TV releases. Her favorite place is a movie theater, and she’s always hunting for the deeper meaning and studying media as it pertains to culture. Film, TV, and interactive media are some of the most impactful artforms of our day, and they are worth digging into and analyzing. Everything is connected, whether it’s through Bacon numbers or history. When she’s not writing or at the movies, you can find Abbie crocheting or playing video games with her partner.
Abigail Whitehurst is an entertainment professional and writer for Hollywood Insider based in Los Angeles, CA. Having lived all over the world as part of a military family and having pursued a bachelors of music, she brings a unique outlook to the entertainment industry. A life-long learner and researcher, Abigail is pursuing her masters in entertainment management. She strives to write through the lenses of context, analysis, and Hollywood Insider’s values to bring a fresh perspective to industry trends, entertainment business, and new film and TV releases. Her favorite place is a movie theater, and she’s always hunting for the deeper meaning and studying media as it pertains to culture. Film, TV, and interactive media are some of the most impactful artforms of our day, and they are worth digging into and analyzing. Everything is connected, whether it’s through Bacon numbers or history. When she’s not writing or at the movies, you can find Abbie crocheting or playing video games with her partner.
