Conclave (2024)

Rusthall Community Cinema’s nineth birthday and we celebrated with the much talked about Conclave.  This topical 2024 political thriller about the Vatican’s process of electing a new Pope drew in a full house. It boasted a cast of stars including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini and John Lithgow. A few big surprises on the way were relished.

Some of our discussion group had seen the film more than once and despite the ‘great reveal’ at the end, would be happy to see it all again. The story was taken from Robert Harris’s 2016 novel and we praised him for being a “consummate storyteller.”  His mastery of combining fact and fiction was appreciated. This was reflected in the storyline which becomes “more fantastical”.

We shared our thoughts about the design of the film. Decisions were made such as darkening the scarlet cassocks, so the viewer found it easier on the eye. We appreciated the overheard shot of nuns with the white umbrellas, which reminded some of The Handmaid’s Tale.

For one of us, the storyline felt very much like an Agatha Christie novel, with the sense of suspects grouped together in a house and the mystery of whodunnit. In Conclave, revelations abound and the truth is slowly revealed.  A window is finally opened.

The sudden explosion in the Sistine chapel during the voting process is a pivotal moment, exposing the sequestered priests to the outside world, disrupting the power struggle and leading to revelations about liberal and traditional attitudes.

The novel painted the priests in more depth, while we are left with a sketchier depiction and a concentration on the powerful themes of avarice, power and secrecy. The 2018 documentary directed by Wim Wenders - "Pope Francis: A Man of His Word" – was recommended for delving deeper.

Although mainly in the background, the role of the nuns cannot be underplayed. We appreciated the compassion, insider knowledge and quiet strength expressed by Isabella Rossellini’s Sister Agnes.

Experiences of going to Catholic schools were shared. French people can perceive the gender of Jeanne D’Arc as male – we found this very interesting. The powerful statement, “This is how God made me” also made an impact.

Our discussion ended with a recommendation of Robert Harris’s novel Precipice.  Happy nineth birthday to us!

Anne