In a sense the ending in brilliant where the audience ends up judging themselves on the reaction as they were judging each character through out the runtime of the film, but it may not be enough. Directed by Edward Berger of All Quiet On The Western Front, the film is based on a book by Robert Harris released in 2016. The story sets forward a simple premise but stirs up major socio economic discussion in a religious setting. Conclave isn’t about ideology how much to maintain it while also trying to exist in the same world filled with national and economic borders.
The film follows Dean Lawrence arriving after the death of the Pope and then tracking his last moments of the day. Early on the film builds suspense around his death but instead of turning into a crime thriller or drama the film explores several plots and subplots at the same time with much fineness. Much of it can be seen through the screenplay while other can be seen in the performance of the actors and through the direction aka Edward Berger’s point of view. He also explores the contradiction in Vatican’s world, the orders it operates on, the way it is perceived and even tries to break down those notions.
The plot essentially focuses on what’s next for the Church and for Rome now that the Pope has passed away. While it is important to find out what the Holy Highness did just before his death, the Conclave is a bigger concern. All the cardinals prepare to gather in the Vatican and lock themselves in untill they come to a conclusion of who gets to become the next Pope with majority. A voting process sounds systematic and there isn’t much priest’s would do wrong. But the film and its OG books explores the exact opposite.
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From ambition to the political and societal implications of who gets chose as the next Pope turns the days of voting into a war between the groups that have different news. Dean Lawrence, thought running the Conclave has no intentions of becoming the Pope ends up as one of the candidates with majority votes. Meanwhile the other other contestants have their own reasons for railing a following inching towards a win by swaying other cardinals. Dean however, doesn’t give up on investigating about Pope’s last meeting which leads to uncovering secrets that has a lasting impact on the voting.
As much as the screenplay of the film is praise worthy so are the performances along with direction of Edward Berger, cinematography by Stéphane Fontaine and editing by Nick Emerson. Ralph Fiennes as Dean Lawrance running the conclave, experiencing doubts in his own faith while also showing the right way to others, gave an unforgettable performance. Meanwhile, Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Aldo Bellini, is one of the strong candidates who ends up missing out on votes every session. His personality goes through a complete 180 in the film which is sublet that does not take away from the film but is unmissable in every shot.
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The background score and the direction along with cinematography, majorly contributes to the story. It didn’t just adding tension and little moments of comic relief and also a sense of unworldliness to the film. All the cardinals are locked in the place for days even with the windows of their rooms being sealed shut, but the film has so much to offer, the story isn’t stripped away from the world it is set in.
Overall, Concave is well deserving for all the Oscar nominations and will mostly likely take one of two home with them.
Cover artwork by Patrick Gawande/Mashable India