“Certainty is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance.”
After the election of Pope Francis in 2013, the world has witnessed the power of a single man to change an institution. However, the decision for him to become Pope was unexpected, to say the least. Pope Francis established a papacy devoted to the poor, simplicity and imperfections. Now, after his recent death, the world finds itself asking who the next Pope will be, and how one is picked, making it the perfect time to watch Edward Berger’s Conclave, a film about the process, and politics, of this sacred journey.
The film follows Cardinal Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes, who was chosen by the late Pope to manage the conclave, as, “Some people are chosen to be shepherds. Others to manage the farm. You’re a manager. So manage.”
However, this job turns out not as straightforward as it may seem, as the process unfolds with scandals and twists, leading Cardinal Lawrence to question both his own capability and the right pick for the Papacy.
The cast of Conclave is spectacular, with Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow giving fantastic performances. Even new actors, such as Carlos Diehz, were extremely memorable, presenting difficult roles through new lenses. However, some of the most eye-catching aspects were the film’s use of color and light to form a tense and solemn tone. The popping reds don’t just draw our eyes to the screen. They create a symbolic power to the person or place wearing it. In contrast, the heavy use of grey throughout the movie adds a realistic sense. The movie isn’t meant to look glamorous and romanticized, but instead highlight human flaws and struggle.
Through the composition and framing, the characters are often placed in ways that mirror a renaissance painting, reminding the viewers of the sanctity and divinity of this process. Some other small details I really enjoyed that added to these tones were the placement of modern-day items in certain shots. As an outsider to the church, I expect Cardinals, especially ones placed in the Conclave, to present themselves as if they were living in the 1800s. However, several of them are found smoking, with one of the more present Cardinals vaping. This ties together this historic tradition to modern practices quite well. On a different note, the pacing of this film was very well done, as it made an often long and slow process feel deliberate and eventful. While some scenes are fast paced and tense, others are thoughtfully slow and reflective. In all, I was never bored watching this film.
The themes of Conclave present a concept that is found in almost every institution: the balance between power and humility. The Cardinals in this Conclave must live in modesty, as expected by the values of the Catholic Church. However, how easy is it to practice this humility when possibly being elected as one of the most famous and influential men in the world? This question is asked throughout the movie, as Cardinals become power hungry and willing to ruin the reputation of others for their own personal gain. Groups within the Conclave fear that traditional and outdated values will be brought back into the more progressive church, eliminating the work of the past Pope, and causing pressure and worry to run high. Currently, our world is facing just this issue, as concerns regarding the values of the next pope are unknown, especially after Pope Francis faced so much backlash for his progressive ideas. However, if we can take one thing in this movie, it is the importance of looking to the future, and guiding our lives with love, doubt and community.
