Anthony Kirby gets divine inspiration from Conclave.
Edward Berger’s film opens during the final minutes of a Pope’s life. His close friend, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), has the difficult job of removing the papal ring and breaking the papal seal. No doctor is present, and no extraordinary medical measures are taken. Ten days later, Cardinal Lawrence assumes the task of convoking the 113 princes of the Church from around the world for a papal conclave.
As is abundantly clear from Church history, cardinals are very often men with ambitions of power. Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), a conservative who wants to overturn all the changes of Vatican II, makes no secret of his. Castellitto’s performance is slightly over the top, but indeed, there are many prelates with this same mindset.
Then the humble African Cardinal, Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), wins votes in the first and second ballots. However, he is discovered to have a hidden past, which he reveals to Cardinal Lawrence of under the seal of confession. Shortly after, he withdraws his candidacy. Following the third ballot, Cardinal Lawrence realises that he himself also received quite a few votes. He’s a humble man of great faith—what is he to do? His first duty is to simply see that the conclave succeeds. Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) is another popular choice, but he admits a preference that Cardinal Lawrence is chosen as the next pope. Cardinal O’Malley (Brian F. O’Byrne) agrees.
As the process goes underway, the cardinals are taken care of thanks to forty nuns, headed by Sister Teresa (Isabella Rossellini). This character is rumoured be modelled on the real life nun who discovered the body of Pope John I and was sworn to secrecy. In one telling scene, in great frustration, Sister Teresa says, “I have one brain, two ears, and two eyes. I wish to express the truth of what I’ve seen.” She’s quickly hustled out of the dining room area.
The Archbishop of Kabul in Afghanistan, Cardinal Benitz (Carlos Diehz), joins the conclave late. He was a protégé of the late pope and has letters of authority from the late pontiff to prove this. Cardinal Lawrence breaks the seal on the late Pope’s apartment door and discovers a document confirming his suspicions. However, his role as the convener of the conclave prohibits him from discussing this with anyone but Cardinal Benitz.
The film, and the book it’s based on, are both works of fiction; however, it’s clear that the inspiration for the 2016 novel by British writer Robert Harris was the complete secrecy and utter silence following the death of Pope John Paul I in 1978. Had this saintly man still been Archbishop of Venice at the time of his death and not pontiff, there would have been a post-mortem.
Suddenly, a bomb explodes, raining debris down on the conclave. In Italy at this time there was political upheaval; this was the same period in which Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro was kidnapped and murdered. The Red Brigade were active and causing chaos.
Shot entirely in Cinecittà Studios, with only tracking shots of the exterior of St. Peter’s, the film is a masterpiece of cinematography. Historically, this studio, where the film The Agony and the Ecstasy was filmed, has a complete replica of the Sistine Chapel. The contrasting colours of the chapel walls, the cardinals’ robes, and the gold and bronze uniforms of the Swiss Guards are a visual optical feast.
In North America, traditional Catholics have expressed offence at the fictional character Cardinal Benitz. No doubt the film will continue to cause controversy, but is also tipped for many nominations for award season; Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini have already received nominations, and BAFTA and Academy Award nods will undoubtedly soon follow suit.
Edward Berger is likely to earn another Best Director nomination for Conclave, a truly great film.
In cinemas from 29th November 2024.
