Conclave is film set in the Vatican about the process of finding a new pope after the incumbent dies of a heart-attack.
Several candidates are in the running including Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) who is also running the selection process. As the film unfolds some of the candidates are forced to withdraw when things about their past are revealed. Thrown into the mix is the Archbishop of Kabul Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz) who had been secretly appointed by the deceased pope.
While this is a slow paced film the exquisite cast and the glorious settings keep one engrossed. It depicts a part of Catholic Church ritual that is normally hidden from the public so we get an almost voyeuristic pleasure watching the drama play out. What is also clear is that despite the puffery of the church, at its heart are real human beings with all the same problems and desires as anyone else.
There are plenty of surprises and intrigue as well as an intimate exploration of the complexities of power, morality and identity.
Go see this movie!
CONCLAVE
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, Isabella Rosellini
Directed by: Edward Berger
Duration: 120 minutes
Opens in New Zealand – 9th January 2024