Who would have thought that the tedious process of democracy, with its endless rounds of voting, could be so thrilling and entertaining? Edward Berger’s drama, skillfully adapted by screenwriter Peter Straughan from Robert Harris's gripping novel, features Ralph Fiennes in a standout performance as the troubled Cardinal Lawrence, caught in a murky Vatican conspiracy. The result is a high-camp thriller, reminiscent of a serious version of a Carry On film.
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In Harris's book, Fiennes’ character is Italian, but Straughan reimagines him as an Englishman: a restless soul on the brink of becoming the first English pope since Adrian IV, though no one mentions this. As the pope lies dying, Cardinal Lawrence finds himself among other ambitious cardinals, each with a facade of cordial friendship, all vying to be the next pope. The cast includes Stanley Tucci as the liberal Bellini, Sergio Castellitto as the reactionary Tedesco, John Lithgow as the deceptively mild Tremblay, Lucian Msamati as the assertive Adeyemi, and Carlos Diehz as the mysterious Benitez. However, Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes, the late pope’s confidante, steals the show.
Lawrence is weighed down by his crisis of faith and suspicions of dark forces. The pope dies without revealing secrets that could expose corrupt candidates, leaving Lawrence to support Bellini while his own votes unexpectedly rise. Should he accept this destiny, or is it a temptation from darker powers?
Berger creates intensely dramatic scenes with cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine and production designer Suzie Davies, crafting surreal, dream-like visuals. Despite a sense of sacrilege in depicting the voting process, Fiennes’ performance is captivating. The conclave becomes a suspenseful race, with a surprising twist likened to National Velvet. Fiennes delivers a remarkable performance.
Conclave" is in UK and Irish cinemas from November 29 and in Australia from January 9.
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