Oscar-winning ‘Conclave’ transports audiences to the tension of papal conclaves

Factional. Tense. Dramatic. Papal conclaves are high-stakes gatherings in the Catholic world where cardinal electors convene in Vatican City to appoint the pope. As Pope Francis’s declining health dominates headlines, international attention has been drawn to the process of selecting his successor.

Although director Edward Berger tends to sensationalize papal conclaves in “Conclave,” the film nonetheless gives audiences a glimpse into hypothetical factionalism and controversies that sway the votes of cardinal electors during these rare gatherings.

The film centers around the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), as he attempts to organize a papal conclave to elect the next pope, while unraveling mysteries surrounding his fellow cardinals that threaten to throw the results of the election into jeopardy.

The film progressively picks up pace after its slow rising action in the first half-hour, throwing audiences onto a rollercoaster of shocking revelations and plot twists as Lawrence uncovers the cardinals’ pasts. 

At 120 minutes, the film’s runtime is the shortest of this year’s Best Picture nominees. But screenwriter Peter Straughan has perfectly adapted the plot of Robert Harris’s eponymous 2016 novel for the screen, creating arguably one of the most captivating political thrillers in recent years. Even with a limited runtime, the film never feels too rushed, allowing viewers to fully digest every new controversy before moving on to the next. It’s no surprise that Straughan won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay at this Sunday’s Oscars.

Composer Volker Bertelmann brings the tense atmosphere of Vatican City to life through his score. Dominated by strings and the ethereal vibrations of the Cristal Baschet — a relatively unknown type of crystallophone played with wet hands — the film’s score emphasizes the ambition, anger and anxiety brewing in the characters throughout.

The dramatic election in “Conclave” would be incomplete without the cast’s impactful performances. Fiennes masterfully depicts the struggles of Lawrence as he attempts to shield the cardinal electors from the bias of outside sources while investigating the rumors surrounding his peers and attempting to bolster support for his peers in the liberal faction of the Church. 

Fiennes was not the only actor who skillfully portrayed the tumultuous emotions of the cardinals during the papal conclave. Each cardinal perfectly captures a unique attitude: the irate Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), the conniving Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow), the ruined Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), the close-minded Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) and the benevolent Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz) weave a complicated narrative tapestry through their actions. The cast was collectively recognized with Critics’ Choice and Screen Actors Guild awards for their performances.

Isabella Rossellini — nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars for her portrayal of Sister Agnes — has little screen time and even fewer lines. A few scenes throughout the film display Agnes’s facial expressions, emphasizing her observant nature and hinting at her pivotal role in the film. In these few appearances that Rosselini makes, she showcases her talent in conveying the sheer influence of Agnes, even without words.

Regrettably, “Conclave” was excluded from the Best Cinematography category at the Academy Awards on Sunday. Rather, “Emilia Perez,” a film that does not attain even a fraction of the immaculate artistic talents of “Conclave” cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine, was nominated in the category. 

Nevertheless, the cinematography of “Conclave” makes it worth the watch. Fontaine beautifully captures the stark contrast between the bright red cloaks of the cardinals and the muted interiors of the Vatican. Each individual scene could be a standalone work of art, particularly one overhead sequence depicting white umbrellas moving across a courtyard as the cardinals migrate to their final round of voting.

With its dramatic bent, “Conclave” provides audiences with a fascinating tale of betrayal, mystery and surprise.

In a different year, “Conclave” would have been the favorite for Best Picture at Sunday’s Oscars. It does what most other films struggle to do — perfectly balance the various aspects of filmmaking from visuals to performances. “Conclave” is a political thriller unafraid of confronting religious taboo topics and a masterpiece in 21st century film.