Cardinal Lawrence has one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, participating in the selection of a new pope. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.
Conclave was a film about control, fear, power and morality. Will you do what’s right or will you fall into place? Corruption, greed and silence was circulating the story constantly, accompanied by powerful performances and a spine chilling, ominous soundtrack. Conclave was a hidden gem, a film that I would have likely ignored if it weren’t nominated for so many accolades but now I understand its gravitational pull. This film sucks you into its void, pulls you into the drama and thrill of the Conclave until you are absorbed by the secrets, the lies and the deceit.
I love films that show us a part of the world we’d never usually see, the Conclave is one of the most private and protected ceremonies in the world and this film opens the door a crack for us to peak inside and observe the hypocrisy.
The film opens conversations which are often ignored or diminished by the church in reality, it was beyond intreating to observe how these scenarios would play out. I was invested in the story and particularly loved how the film was executed like a murder mystery game, a religious whodunit so to speak. Following Cardinal Lawrence as he discovers clues and evidence against his fellow cardinals was brilliantly suspenseful and enticing.
I must discuss the breathtaking set design and unforgettable score. In the hands of production designer Suzie Davies, Conclave transports you into the world of The Vatican. She was able to achieve the grand spaces, high ceilings and long corridors whilst simultaneously making the space feel isolated and dark. The juxtaposition of these large rooms with dark corners was brilliant to watch as the Cardinals whispered amongst each other like school girls. Of course, the team took artistic license with the private aspects of the Vatican but nonetheless, it felt like we were there.
German composer Volker Bertelmann created the sound of Conclave, he produced an incredibly classic yet ominous score to accompany the film. Beautifully eerie and utterly unforgettable.
Fiennes Cardinal Lawrence is the centre of the story, he is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope. Fiennes was subtle in his performance and yet enticing, his power on screen was alluring and I was with him every step of the way. The church’s version of Poirot, Fiennes was memorable, natural and acted as a catalyst for all the thrill.
Berger takes a traditional, sacred story and turns it on its head. Discussing religion so closely can be tricky in cinema, it opens the flood gates for offence but this film was magnetic. Adding a layer of mystery and thrill to the story made it enthralling from begging to end, unpredictable and most of all insightful. I learnt a lot about the church through this film, I learnt what the conclave is and I found it to be truly fascinating.
Overall, Conclave was an alluring feature that surprised me. Every element was striking and captivating, plus the explosive end twist which was perfectly poetic.
Probe Points
★★★★☆
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