Director: Edward Berger
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow
‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’
Religion is a sensitive subject that’s rarely ever portrayed in films with respect. Hollywood has always neglected stories of religious preachers which face monasteries. A provocative subject matter, tales about religion seldom ever attract viewers to the theatre. Due to the controversial nature of the subject, religion is rarely depicted in movies with respect. Movies seldom shine a spotlight on priests enduring hardships hidden in plain sight. When tackling the subject matter of religion, filmmakers always have to strike a balance between entertainment and education value. It’s a tricky balance which few movies if any are able to effectively achieve. Fearful of offending viewers, filmmakers have avoided a subject which is associated with controversy. Therefore, for these reasons it’s often rare to see realistic movies which paint an accurate portrait of religion.
In an industry that has often avoided depicting the way that religious priests behave, it’s worth praising Conclave. Edward Berger’s movie is a remarkable drama that offered a phenomenal portrait of religion. With the greatest film of his career, Berger captured the heavy burden that priests bear. Packed with powerful production, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies about religion ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Ralph Fiennes, who captures a religious priest facing a dilemma. Ultimately, what makes “Conclave” a masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a strong message about the danger of competition which would resonate with everyone. Unlike most religious movies, it tackles universal themes everyone would relate to. A riveting masterpiece about religious doubt, there are many reasons why “Conclave” is a movie that is definitely worth watching.
Based on the beloved book, “Conclave” tells a story of a cardinal struggling to cope with the death of a pope which is grave. Ralph Fiennes portrays Cardinal Lawrence, a pope that has always shared a strong religious connection. Lawrence has always taken his professions of managing Catholic Church seriously. However, Lawrence’s forever changes when the pope he has always loved dies. Devastated by the sad death of the pope, Lawrence begins to lose all hope. Following the pope’s death, Lawrence is given the challenging endeavour of selecting a new pope. Assisted by bishop Bellini (Stanley Tucci), Lawrence embarks on a journey to find a new pope. As shocking secrets concerning the Catholic Church are revealed, Lawrence is put in a difficult situation. Questioning his faith in the conclave, Lawrence wonders whether it is possible to survive in a church following the death of a pope that’s grave.
Edward Berger is a newcomer towards themes of religion. Before he had directed “Conclave”, Berger had never made a movie about religion before. Berger was known for making war films about historical tragedies. His award-winning war film “All Quiet on Western Front” offered a meaningful glimpse at soldiers seeking to stay quiet to survive disaster on western front. With “Conclave”, however, the filmmaker created his first religious drama. It was Berger’s attempt to adapt a renowned book about religious doubt, but he succeeded. Using bold cinematography, Berger captures a religious priest that embarks on a journey to find identity. Visually, the film is a feast for the eyes. Berger successfully uses montages to capture a priest that struggles to cope with the devastating death of a pope. For instance, montages enhance the priest scene. During this unforgettable scene, Lawrence has an emotional reaction reacting with grief after the death of the pope. Through montages, the filmmaker captures hardships religious priests go through. Montages are tricky techniques to use in films. As Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” suggested, montages enhance historical dramas about the Holocaust. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Berger captures religious priests experiencing barriers that are terrifying.
Another admirable aspect of “Conclave” that merits appreciation is the production-design. From a technical perspective, the film is very well-made. Berger uses stunning production capturing a religious priest searching for life direction. Berger’s decision to craft a replica replicating the set of the Catholic Church is risky but works immensely. Berger effectively uses the replica set of a Church to honour a book about religion. For instance, the replica set-design of the church elevates the election scene. During this memorable scene, Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with the challenging tasks of selecting a new pope in an election process. One appreciates the replica set design of the church capturing the setting. Replica sets are tricky techniques to employ in religious movies. Nevertheless, they work immensely in this film. Moreover, the musical score is superb. Volker Bertelmann’s instrumental score gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the burden that priests bear. Through exceptional production, Berger celebrates a world-famous book about religion.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “Conclave” is a captivating classic which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the tension faced by popes seeking to organize elections. Berger’s screenwriting strength is capturing the tensions endured by priests by silence. Throughout the movie, Berger uses sequences of silence to capture a religious priest which faces doubt over his faith. For instance, silence elevates the religious faith scene. During this unforgettable scene, the Cardinal Lawrence endures a crisis of faith adopting attitude of silence amid the election process. One admires sequences of silence captioning the hardship that religious priests endure. Through sequences of silence, Berger captures the hardships that religious priests go through. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Anthony Minghella’s “The English Patient” suggested, silence elevates historical dramas. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Berger captures religious priests facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Ralph Fiennes delivers one of his best career performances as Cardinal Lawrence. Fiennes achieved appreciations for playing cruel Nazi guards in “Schindler’s List”. With “Conclave”, however, the actor took on his most religious role. It isn’t easy to embody the commemorated personality of a religious priest tasked with selecting a new pope, but Fiennes succeeded tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, courage and resentment of a priest that’s tasked with the intimidating challenge of selecting a new pope. It’s an extraordinary performance by one of the most beloved actors today.
The supporting cast is sensational and also worthy of recognition. Stanley Tucci is terrific, bringing humanity to a pope concerned about the future of his church that faces uncertainty. Lucian Msamati is marvellous, capturing grief of a priest which endures depression when his possibility of becoming a pope is destroyed by sexual assault allegation. Lastly, John Lithgow deserves appreciation. As a religious pope, he is unforgettable.
Despite its fantastic performances, however, “Conclave” can’t entirely capture the ways in which priests behave. If there’s a drawback to the movie, it suffers from poor pacing. Berger’s decision to integrate subplots capturing sexual scandals in the movie is bold but doesn’t quite succeed. Due to this faulty technique, scenes capturing a sexual scandal aren’t as engaging as Lawrence’s desires to discover his identity. Whereas the subplot elevated Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight”, it feels out of place in this movie. Therefore, “Conclave” can’t quite celebrate a commemorated book about religion that audiences have grown to adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Ralph Fiennes will enjoy “Conclave” and so will movie-goers seeking enlightening entertainment.A fantastic adaptation of a beloved book about religion, it proves religious stories are worthy of celebration.
Nearly 10 years following the publication of a groundbreaking book about priests experiencing a crisis of faith questioning their faith in religion following the heartbreaking deaths of popes causing destruction, it’s a riveting reminder that stories about religion are worth recounting in movies in an industry that has all-too-often turned a blind eye towards religious stories which are definitely without a doubt worthy of appreciation.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 