StubStack: Conclave

Conclave was not the movie I expected it to be. 

Given the way films are marketed these days, this is rare. Usually, most people, myself included, have a very good idea of what the movie they are going to see is about and the tone with which the story and its ideas are delivered. Hell, most modern trailers show the best scenes and give away the whole movie. For Conclave, all I knew about it was that it was about electing a new pope because I had seen so little of its marketing campaign.

Going into Conclave, I thought it would be Vatican Veep, a satirical account of the election of a new pope. After a few minutes, I could tell that those were not the vibes. About ten minutes in, I thought we might be getting a Vatican whodunnit, but over the next half hour, it became apparent that that’s not what Conclave is either.

So, what IS Conclave about? At its core, it deals with the death of a pope and the subsequent effort to choose his successor. It’s a serious exploration of faith, politics, power, and human fallibility.

The film follows Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, a senior figure in the Catholic Church tasked with organizing the Conclave—the process of electing a new pope. He must navigate complex personal relationships, political opinions, and power struggles to ensure the Conclave is successful. The narrative encompasses debates about faith, politics, and the direction of the Catholic Church.

While Conclave isn’t a satire, it does contain moments of humor. It isn’t a mystery either, but its electoral nature builds anticipation for the results. Fiennes delivers a compelling performance, which is why he is being discussed as a Best Actor nominee. The film also boasts exquisite set design and cinematography; I even briefly, albeit naively, wondered if some scenes were actually shot in the Sistine Chapel. And the soundtrack and score are pleasantly unique, fitting the film’s themes and tone.

I don’t want to spoil Conclave, but there is an intriguing twist—perhaps even a double twist. I anticipated the first, but the second caught me off guard. This choice has certainly elicited polarized reactions. While Conclave isn’t thrilling or action-packed, it is thought-provoking, and I’m glad I watched it.