“Conclave” - Film Review

The conclave seems simple at first glance: the story of Catholic cardinals, isolated in Rome, who must elect a new Pope within days. They are held back by centuries of tradition and order, while the outside world, which we barely see, is changing radically around them. Even within this group of brother cardinals there are echoes of the external social and political climate that threatens to shake the foundations of the Catholic Church. But some among them would argue that the Church needs to be shaken to its core in order to best serve the people outside closed doors. A conclave could be reduced to a series of conversations and gossip, the results of which are truly earth-shattering. Watch the movie on flixhd cc movie.

Following the sudden death of the current Pope due to a heart attack, Cardinal Lawrence is given the responsibility of hosting the conclave meeting that will lead to the selection of the next Pope. When the election begins, four candidates emerge as likely candidates: Bellini, Adeyemi, Tremblay and Tedesco. While Bellini's views are more liberal and reflect those of the previous Pope, Adeyemi, Tremblay and Tedesco are all conservative to varying degrees, with Tedesco being the most extreme.

Bellini claims he has no interest in the post, but says he would need to be open to becoming pope to keep someone like Tedesco away from so much power. The arrival of an unknown archbishop throws the conclave completely off-kilter. Benitez, from Kabul and unknown to anyone before the conclave began, becomes a candidate.

At the heart of this conclave is the idea that life exists at opposite ends of a spectrum, that we are rarely in a happy middle state. The sincerity and intensity with which the spectacle of the conclave is staged is in stark contrast to the absurdity of the whole thing; how this whole tradition is at odds with cardinals smoking e-cigarettes deep in the Vatican. In the world of the Church, people cannot put themselves in the middle.

There are saints and sinners, nothing in between, because organized religion needs these opposites to do its job. In her opening address to the cardinals, Dean Lawrence spoke of doubt and uncertainty, which excited the cardinals. Her job is supposed to be free from these feelings, but that's all Dean Lawrence can think about when she wants to resign, citing a crisis of faith. The conclave exists between doubt and certainty. The friction between the egos of those who want the jobs of power and control, and those who don't but would seize the opportunity to create progress if elected, is what makes this a fascinating two-hour experiment.

Taking his cues from the 2022 war epic All Quiet in the West, Berger brings grandiosity and scale to even the smallest, most intimate interactions and clashes. As if mimicking God’s all-seeing eye, Berger’s lens often peers from above, zooming patiently in on dimly lit rooms and chambers to capture beautiful pictures of the conversations and intrigues that threaten to change the very fabric of faith.

Cinematographer Stephane Fontaine’s camerawork feels like an extension of the halls and chapels in which the story takes place, slicing through the stone and artwork to dissect the flaws, imperfections and sinful tendencies of these sacred institutions. “Conclave” is conversational, yet a visual feast with layered and mesmerizing compositions at every turn.

Conclave

But Conclave’s seemingly isolated story contains a sharp commentary on the fallacies of the world at large, and the political game in particular. "Is it really our duty to vote for the least bad option?" Cardinal Lawrence laments, unintentionally summing up the American electoral process in a single darkly comic beat. Like the cardinal, many are currently experiencing a crisis of faith not about God or country, but about the institutions that police faith.

Berger and screenwriter Peter Straughan deliver a humorous yet incisive critique of both the inertia of the church and our collective preferences for it. They target institutions that cater to their own preference base without considering alternative perspectives. Of course, the bold course change by Berger and company is too fascinating and provocative not to enjoy. The result is a final twist that, while likely to draw ridicule from devout Catholics, keeps the debate open, something that is lacking in the larger socio-political context.