MOVIE REVIEW

Conclave

A timely psychological thriller and a visual feast

All images: Movie publicity (Focus Features)

About a month before the passing of Pope Francis, I went to see “Conclave” at the cinema.

The star is Ralph Fiennes. I really like him as an actor. I’ve seen him in many films and also saw him live on stage in a London theatre performance of “Brand” by Henrik Ibsen.

Conclave is a thriller, set inside the Vatican while all the world’s Catholic cardinals are sequestered to choose a new Pope.

Its behind-the-scenes insights into the traditions and procedures gave me a different perspective on the recent election of Pope Leo XIV.

Of course there’s all sorts of politics and manoeuvring, but also a lot of philosophy and things to reflect on about ourselves.

All images: Movie publicity (Focus Features)

I loved the beautiful images of the Vatican architecture and Sistine Chapel (giant doors, the painted ceiling where Michelangelo’s characters observe every move of the humans below) and the contrast of those vast spaces inside, despite the idea they are closed in and “locked away”.

All images: Movie publicity (Focus Features)

There were also dramatic visuals of the Church traditions, costumes and the theatrics of ceremony — the gendered division of labour as nuns cook and clean, make beds, type and photocopy while the men eat and smoke and talk and think; the birds eye view over a crowd of red-robed cardinals carrying pure white umbrellas as they cross the piazza in the rain; close-up detail of hands writing the name of a preferred candidate, casting votes into a special vessel, stringing and stacking ballots as they are counted.

All images: Movie publicity (Focus Features)

Many of these traditions evolved to ensure security and integrity of the process. For example, when a Pope dies, his papal seal and “Ring of the Fisherman” are destroyed.

Originally this was to prevent the forgery of documents.

I was fascinated by the similarities of conclave with both the politics of our government elections and the ancient rituals that accompany our modern parliamentary processes.

All images: Movie publicity (Focus Features)

The film raised questions about the qualities required for leadership and how to unify a diverse group of people to strive for a common goal.

The passing Pope had noted: some are called to be shepherds, others to manage the farm.

It is not until events of the outside world make themselves felt inside the sanctuary of the conclave that the cardinals begin to really clarify their thoughts on this question.

The film also asserts the value of doubt over certainty — noting that certainty removes mystery and the need for faith.

My thoughts are that certainty closes the mind to new or different ideas and prevents growth, but it also offers a feeling of wellbeing and relieves anxiety — so I’m still deciding what I really think about that…

Overall I enjoyed the film very much and will continue to think about it for some time.

[embed]Conclave: Official Movie Trailer on YouTube

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