If you had told me that the best thriller of the year would involve electing a new Pope, I would have laughed at you.
Directed by Edward Berger, Conclave begins as the Pope unexpectedly dies. As Cardinals from around the world hurry to the Vatican, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is left to oversee the next conclave to decide who shall take on the role of Holy Father. As the group is sequestered to make their vote, Lawrence must attempt to navigate the system and scandals that arise as these men jockey for position and power amidst the global Catholic church.
Fresh off the success of his All Quiet on the Western Front, Berger has once again created a compelling drama that balances character with intensity. With a sparkling script that grabs the viewer and never lets go, Conclave plays out like the best of political dramas. Led by an absolutely riveting Fiennes, the cast is stellar and every moment simply works. Though its set in the Catholic Church, this could very well be set against the backdrop of a presidential election or major corporation.
Amazingly, Berger never allows the viewer to forget the high stakes of choosing a figurehead to the Catholic church. For devout Catholics, the papacy is meant to represent God’s chosen leader. His values determine the direction that the church takes on a global scale. As such, there are genuine concerns about the motivations—and directions—that the next Pope may take. Will he be too Conservative? Too liberal? Every potential candidate seems to carry a position that pushes the agenda of the Church into an uncomfortable position, even if it shows progress.
Maybe even especially if it shows progress.
Yet neither does Conclave deify its characters either. Instead, the film reveals the cracks within the foundation of the Church. As these men scratch and claw for their spot at the throne, Conclave shows their brokenness. When it comes to the position of His Holiness, we see that (potentially) none of these men are truly worthy of the position. Like everyone outside the walls of the Vatican, these men too suffer from an incurable disease: their humanity.
In this respect, the film touches on questions regarding the nature of leadership. In an organization such as the Church at large that places such a high value on a person’s character, Conclave reminds us that they must not be held on a pedestal. Yet what makes someone a good choice to lead? For some of these men, leadership brings power that they want to yield. For others, it’s too much of a burden. Each of them carries their own stories, flaws and strengths. There are no true heroes here, even if some are more palatable than others.
But all have a plan for the future. Each one of these men believe that they have the ‘answers’ to set a course for the future of the church. Whether or not that future is desirable highlights the tension involved at the intersection of faith and culture. For many, the future involves devolving into traditions of old, regardless of who it may hurt in the present. But, for others, it’s about looking towards a new horizon to see where God may rest, even if it pushes them out of their comfort zone.
To say any more would be to give away too much, but it stands to reason that Conclave is one of the most engaging and entertaining films of the year. Berger In short, it should not take a conclave for this film to find its way into awards contention.
Conclave is available in theatres on Friday, October 25th, 2024.
