Conclave–A Sinful Synod
Based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris, Conclave opens with the death of the current pope and the mandate to appoint a successor through the conclave or synod of over one hundred cardinals from all over the globe. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), the right-hand Brit who is the dean, must supervise the synod.
As the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders gather to vote, Cardinal Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci) argues that he is best positioned to be pope, although he protests that he has no ambition to be the Holy Pontiff. Tormented by his own crisis in faith and by a desire to resign as dean, Lawrence wishes to support his friend.
The ensuing power struggles within the Catholic Church become more alarming as their secrets and lies surface.
Religious faith clashes with the hunger for power and the seductive allure of reigning over one of the most affluent institutions in the world. Fighting their own lack of self-awareness, duplicity and self-denial, the slate of cerebral sexually repressed clergy fight ugly, smear other cardinals’ reputations, and boldly declare their superiority over their colleagues.
At the opening of the election process, Cardinal Lawrence gives the following speech:
“There is one sin which I have come to fear above all others. Certainty. Certainty is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance.”
With cardinals from different ethnicities and geopolitical experiences, Lawrence asks his fellow colleagues to embrace the doubt, to be open to different perspectives and to tolerate others’ beliefs. Otherwise, great harm can come from [the illusion] of their own certainty.
But faith takes many forms, and being hypocritical can be disguised as faith. Outsiders are not welcome; racist and homophobic views prevail. The papacy has been rife with corruption, politically venomous behavior, and deceit throughout its long history. Can the candidates to be considered by the conclave be more of the same? Can a higher standard be achieved?
The intersection between religion and politics, personal integrity and ambition, institutional traditions and progressive change, identity and self-erasure, are slowly revealed, subverted, and denied. Is the conclave on the side of power or truth?
Conclave is the heir apparent to “Doubt”, another exploration of religious certitude, infallibility versus uncertainty, and how institutions reflexively commit to protecting their reputations, regardless of moral responsibility.
Conclave has an exemplary supporting cast, including Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow as the cunning Canadian Cardinal Tremblay, and Isabella Rossellini as a nun almost completely erased by mostly the old white men in the room. The depth and complexity of the narrative, with cognitively distorting dialogue, make this character-driven plot a high-brow thriller, perhaps too cerebral for those not so interested in institutional, particularly religious, intrigue.
Director Edward Berger (of “All Quiet on the Western Front”) gives us a sumptuous visual feast of characters, with subtle performances and meticulous scene architecture. Remarkable shots (by cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine), particularly the overhead shot of umbrellas protecting the red and white robed cardinals, and the Vatican City interior are jaw-dropping and stunning. Perhaps too quiet for some viewers’ attention, the drama is low-keyed and requires patience to tie in all the character flaws of each cardinal, often seemingly imperceptible.
Truly Academy-Award worthy this year!
Availability: Peacock