Conclave

 If you want to see an intelligent, tense and enjoyable thriller go and see Edward Berger’s Vatican based drama Conclave.

It’s a great ride.

Conclave is the claustrophobic Sistine Chapel based event where some 160 cardinals vote in the next Pope, often over a much protracted period of time .Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence a loyal and principled manager of the Conclave. Although eligible to be Pope himself , he oversees the run for promotion with diligence and fairness only questioning all of the top delegates when troubling information alights some of it from the dead Pope himself. 

This “ whodunnit” features some cracking scene stealing characters. The African Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) confident in his continent’s support, the fiercely ambitious liberal Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), the flamboyantly traditional Italian Cardinal Tedesco ( Sergio Castellitto ) who steals one scene by puffing on a vape! and the obsequious American Cardinal Trembray ( John Lithgow) all want the Papal position but each are thwarted by the twists and turns of a plot which is satisfyingly advocated and superbly played by Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence. 

It’s a wonderful performance , one of Fiennes’ very best in fact and the whole film is beautifully choreographed and shot by Stéphane Fontaine , who makes the most of the Papal uniforms and wonderful Vatican City backdrop.

I loved it.