Conclave is the kind of film we should all sit down to watch today, because the Church cannot be without a pope. Released in theaters at the end of 2024, it is directed by filmmaker and screenwriter Edward Berger.The film is inspired by the novel of the same name by British author Robert Harris and is set against the backdrop of the sudden death of a pope and the ensuing conclave to elect his successor. The story unfolds within some of the most awe-inspiring and timeless locations, the Sistine Chapel and various other corners of Vatican City.
It’s a psychological thriller that weaves its way through power plays, secrets, intrigue, and betrayal, all cloaked within the walls of the Vatican. At its heart is Cardinal Lawrence, played masterfully by Ralph Fiennes, who finds strength in his faith to carry the heavy responsibility of leading the conclave until the new pope is chosen.Reviews have been mixed, with some calling it a “well-crafted thriller” and others finding it “a bit claustrophobic.” It may or may not be to everyone’s taste, but there’s no denying the brilliance of its cinematography, at times disorienting with skewed angles and off-kilter lines, and at others restoring a perfect sense of balance through composition.It’s a slow film that somehow flies by, never boring, always holding back just enough to surprise us, and, why not, even offering a touch of a happy ending.
Some say it may have brought a bit of bad luck to the universally loved Pope Francis, whether one is religious or not. Be that as it may, the time has come to look ahead and, as is surely already happening, begin to think about the next white smoke.
Soon, locked inside the Sistine Chapel beneath Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling and the incorruptible gaze of God, the cardinals of the Catholic Church will gather to elect Bergoglio’s successor. He, Francis to all of us, waited until after Holy Easter to bid his final farewell.
What remains with us is that lingering sense of uncertainty so vividly portrayed in the film, one that, if he saw it, I believe Pope Francis would have truly appreciated.
Switch to Italian to read the original article by Sara Saiu. English translation by E. Mulas.
