With Conclave, Oscar-winning director Edward Berger has adapted Robert Harris’s novel of the same name. After the war film Nothing New in the West, the German filmmaker is fighting a slightly different battle behind the walls of the Vatican this time: that of the next head of the Catholic Church. Anyone who believes that such a papal election offers little excitement should definitely let this twisting conspiracy thriller prove them wrong.
Konklave is exciting from the first to the 120th minute
The thriller Conclave makes its pace clear from the first scene: Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) rushes along the streets of Rome towards the Vatican – to confirm the Pope’s death and then lead the laborious selection of a worthy successor. He and the film strive with a taut step, accompanied by menacing scratching strings towards a clear goal while it bubbles beneath the surface. The at first glance unspectacular story of older churchmen who cast their ballot papers over and over again for two hours until a winner is determined is surprisingly not boring for a minute.
Of course, Conclave is not a documentary that introduces in detail the secrets of the papal election. The twist-filled thriller is just as little like the Dan Brown film adaptation Illuminati, which tackled the subject in a much more sensational way 15 years ago. Instead, the tension comes out here small gestures with great meaning down: When a nun confronts the gentlemen’s society with her own intrigues and concludes the revelation with a laconic curtsy, it provides enormous satisfaction. When a rival comments on the defeat of another hopeful with just his smug look and a drag on his cigarette, it cuts deep into the heart.
The papal election is also visual A feast for the eyes: bright red robes against white marblerunning umbrella patterns, huge vaults in which people appear tiny. Edward Berger’s belief in the power of images is palpable here. The feeling for the magnitude of this event arises all by itself. The Vatican as a place shrouded in mystery, behind whose walls hardly anyone is allowed to look, coupled with what is probably the most famous polling station in the world (aka the Sistine Chapel), turns out to be the ideal setting for a thriller. What follows is a chamber play in the smallest country on earth.
Konklave turns doubt into enjoyment – with twists and a shady cast
It is thanks to the cast of Konklave that we follow every new twist in the film with devotion. Above all, Ralph Fiennes’ Cardinal, who credibly struggles with his doubts with melancholy and gravitas. He cleverly transfers his uncertainty to the audience, regardless of whether they are believers or not. Without knowing where the plot and characters will take you, the thriller becomes Enjoyment of puzzles and excitement.
No matter how many thrillers you’ve seen, it’s impossible to anticipate every surprise here and that’s a joy. The countless twists and turns give the thriller its breathlessness: Because in your head you rush after every twist and its consequences and still end up with your jaw open. Rarely has it been so nice to be dragged along so unaware.
With Fiennes as deputy, we wonder whether friend Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) is the best candidate. Or should Cardinal Lawrence rather give his vote to possibly the first African pope, Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), in order to prevent the rise of the all-too-traditional Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto)? And how do Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) and the unknown Benitez (Carlos Diehz), who appears shortly before the start of the election, fit into the picture? Anyone who desires the position too much will be disqualified almost automatically for the powerful “burden” of the office.
The precise and at the same time clever casting from conclave fuels the suspicions. After all, almost all of the stars have played ambivalent roles before. Accordingly, the characters of Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort in Harry Potter), Stanley Tucci (serial killer from In My Heaven), Isabella Rossellini (Russian spy in Alias - The Agent) or John Lithgow (Trinity Killer in Dexter) could be in one or the other also swing in the other direction.
Konklave is a political thriller that has its finger on the pulse of the times
Right at the start of the papal election, the Vatican completely barricaded itself from the public. Telephones that have been rendered unusable are piled up in the hallways and doors are sealed so that no one from outside can influence voting. Being filmed locked in the back rooms of this top-secret process feels almost forbidden. Otherwise, outsiders can only witness this event as white smoke from the chimney announces the new pope at the end. Edward Berger fills the mystery with one Borderline between fact and fictionby dressing well-known papal election processes in a bright red thriller robe.
An image at the beginning stands out as a representation of how an old tradition meets the modern world: a fluoroscopy machine takes X-rays side by side Rosary and cell phone. This exciting friction also continues in the discussions between the ballots: While the liberal cardinals discuss relaxing contraception or draw their line in the sand when it comes to accepting homosexuality, others could – God forbid – see a greater role for women. – definitely not accepted in the Catholic churches.
There is a conclave in these disputes and accusations Despite ancient rituals, we have our finger on the pulse of our time. In the present day, when (non-church) elections around the world are going to ever greater extremes and questions about identity and gender roles are the order of the day, it is easy to draw parallels in other areas of life. Doubtful papal causes of death and the candidates’ past missteps that have been brought to light mutate beyond the church framework into one political chess game with tricks and intrigues.
The very last, enjoyable twist In conclave, very few people will probably see it coming. It puts the icing on the cake for the thriller and rounds off the movie visit in a way that manages to be both crazy and forgiving at the same time. And what more could you ask for in the current political climate?