Susan Granger’s review of “Conclave” (Focus Features)
The psychological thriller “Conclave” revolves around the selection of a new Pope, a mysteriously secretive process that begins with the death of the Holy Father whose private chambers are immediately sealed as Roman Catholic Cardinals from all over the world descend on the Vatican to be locked in the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes for his successor.
“Certainty is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance. If there was only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery and therefore no need for faith,” intones British Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), the anguished, reform-minded Dean of the College of Cardinals who presides over the proceedings. “Let us pray that God grants us a pope who doubts.”
As the various ‘contenders’ are introduced, it becomes obvious that the most prominent are outspoken American liberal Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci), homophobic Nigerian Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), conservative Italian Gioffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), and ambitious Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow), the late Pope’s chosen Camerlengo, or chamberlain. Scene-by-scene, the intrigue mounts.
Suspicion arises as a new Cardinal whom nobody knew about. Archbishop of Kabul Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz), shows up, and there’s turmoil with the unexpected arrival of a nun serving under attentive Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini). Plus rampant political unrest inevitably rattles the Vatican’s walls.
As in every election, there are accusations of misconduct – involving money, power and, inevitably, sex. Plus there’s a word in the dialogue that sent me to the dictionary – ‘simony,’ an archaic term for the buying and selling of church positions or privileges.
Based on Robert Harris’ speculative novel of the same name, it’s adapted by Peter Straughan (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) and directed by Edward Berger (Oscar-winning “All Quiet on the Western Front”), who – working with cinematographer Stephane Fontaine – obviously relishes revealing the intricate details of scarlet ceremonial pageantry, aesthetic ballot procedures, and clandestine rituals like generating black-or-white smoke as a signal to Vatican watchers.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Conclave” is a provocative, ecclesiastical 8, playing in theaters.
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