In the spring of 2014, Toronto theatre-going audiences had the opportunity to see Roger Crane’s play The Last Confession, which one of the main centerpieces of the plot centers around the death of Pope John Paul I, who died 33 days after he was elected, and the evening before his death he told three Cardinals they would be replaced. While this play is based on real-life events, it also drew inspiration from conspiracy theories surrounding it. Because there was no autopsy performed, he died so shortly after his election, and there is so much secrecy within the Church, the story was ripe for a dramatic interpretation that leaned into those conspiracies and for the lead, David Suchet, to give an amazing performance. Conclave, directed by Edward Berger with a screenplay by Peter Straughan based on the Robert Harris novel, is set around the death of a fictional Pope and the conclave that follows, but like The Last Confession, the men vying to replace him carry many secrets, and Ralph Fiennes gives a masterful reserved performance as Cardinal Lawrence, the man in charge of ensuring the Conclave, and as a result, uncovering the mechanisms others have put into play to get themselves elected Pope.
In a story centering on a conclave, an important question is, “Who will be the next Pope?” As their ballots have to reach a certain threshold of votes, a 2/3rd majority, electing a new Pope takes multiple ballots and often days. And during this process, they are sequestered. A great place for building tension and showing the characters’ true nature. The frontrunners:
Cardinal Tremblay (played by John Lithgow) – the last Cardinal to have an official meeting with the previous Pope on the day he died.
Cardinal Tedesco (played by Sergio Castellitto) – who wants to take the Church backwards.
Cardinal Adeyemi (played by Lucian Msamati) – who is socially conservative but otherwise progressive. If elected, he would be the first Black Pope.
Cardinal Bellini (played by Stanley Tucci) – socially progressive, claims to only be a candidate to try to keep the other more conservative candidates out.
After his opening speech that began their sequestering, Cardinal Lawrence emerges as a dark horse candidate. Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz) also gets a singular vote in the first round. Benitez’s appointment as a Cardinal was kept a secret by the previous Pope, so with this vote, his name becomes public knowledge as the daily tallies are released.
Bellini and Lawrence are established as friends and as having had a close with the previous Pope. As such, we spend a lot of time with Bellini, and it doesn’t take long for it to become apparent that when he says he doesn’t desire the papacy, he’s dishonest. It becomes more apparent when Lawrence manages to get votes. Watching Fiennes and Tucci bicker is a treat, but Lithgow may have the flashier performance that is remembered come awards nominations.
The film is well-paced, with a twist, reveal, or bang any time it gets comfortable. And yet, Conclave allowed quiet moments to live as Lawrence sought answers, not only to what was going on with his fellow Cardinals but within his own faith.
The costuming is presented with such care, and it gives the film a beautiful colour palate, with the reds really standing out. This is also a product of the blocking and cinematography. There is one great shot of all the cardinals walking outside that is very reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale. This felt like an appropriate visual reference because there had been discussion about the election of certain Cardinals putting the church backward on its stances on women and LGBTQ+ people.
Conclave is currently in theatres.
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