I recently went with a friend to the cinema to watch ‘Conclave’. I thoroughly enjoyed both the cinematic experience, the frames and the colours in the movie. Until watching this movie, I did not truly know or understand how popes are elected. So, in a way, it was also an education.
Edward Berger’s directional film, ‘Conclave’ has been nominated for the 2025 Oscars in eight categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor, among others. It took home one Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for writer Peter Straughan, who turned the acclaimed Robert Harris novel with the same name into a movie script.
‘Conclave’ is a political thriller that revolves around papal elections, which are woven together with a tinge of ambition, intrigue, envy, and mystery—keeping you at the edge of your seat. The story begins with the death of the pope.
With the death of the long-ailing pope, Adrian IV, the cardinals are now out in public with their ambitions for the next pope. And the new pope needs to be elected in the Vatican—and Ralph Fiennes, in his splendid form as Cardinal Lawrence, is at the centre of the smooth conduct of the papal election and in the midst of the plots and politics that riddle it.
There are other actors too, playing other cardinals: Stanley Tucci, as Cardinal Bellini, a liberal; Sergio Castellitto, as Cardinal Tedesco, a racist and reactionary; Lucian Msamati is Cardinal Adeyemi; and Carlos Diehz is Cardinal Benitez, who has been made the Archbishop of Kabul in secrecy. And in between all of the male-dominated structures, there is Sister Agnes, who holds sway over all other younger sisters.
Although Cardinal Lawrence himself has deep issues with his crisis of faith, and the pope has now died without allowing him to resign as dean of the College of Cardinals, he now takes it upon himself to conduct a smooth transition of power.
The papal elections are a grandiose affair: all cardinals are required to vote by secret ballot in the Sistine Chapel. The results of each round are counted aloud. If no candidate has the required two-thirds majority, the ballots are burned in a stove—and that, itself, I am told, is a spectacle.
Whenever the black smoke goes up the sky from the Chapel, it is understood that one count has been completed without a positive result. But, when the white smoke goes up, it means the papal election was successful. Despite my being an atheist, the whole process seemed to intrigue me so much—and, dare I say, bring an unrequited joy.
However, Lawrence, who himself has been cheering for the liberal Bellini, finds himself in an intriguing situation. With every new count, his vote counts seem to increase—and someone seems to be batting for him in his stead. Bellini seems to be losing with every new count. His supporters seem to shrink, and Tedesco seems to be on the rise. But that is not all.
There is a lot more to the story. In the background, we will learn that Cardinal Benitez has been cheering for Lawrence. And just when you seem to love the distance Lawrence maintains with papal ambitions, things seem to change. The ending comes as a surprise, nonetheless. Just when you come to think you have known it all, you will feel how much you just don’t know towards the end.
‘Conclave’ is a nail-biting thriller. Fiennes is just too brilliant. The narration is impeccable. And the cinematography, above all, is top-notch. Each scene follows the next. And the colours in the film are worth a watch. There is this one scene with all the cardinals in their red gowns and their red umbrellas huddling through the rain. It is a treat to look at.
In any case, if you wish to watch something Oscar-worthy, go to the nearest cinemas for ‘Conclave’ (that is, if it is still in the cinemas). Otherwise, wait for an OTT platform to host it.