When it comes to stories set in or centred around the Catholic Church, there is an expectation. Either a horror, cheap or classy or a story about faith. Conclave touches upon the crisis of faith but it is never delves too deep. Instead, and most refreshingly, Conclave is a thriller with elements of a murder mystery, except with no murder, but intense one the less.
When the Holy Father dies, there is a vacuum left behind. Cardinals scrabble to secure votes who they believe is the right candidate. It is left to Cardinal Lawrence, the Dean of the College, to organise Conclave, where all the cardinals are summoned to choose the next Pope. But through secrets and sabotage, Lawrence discovers the favourites each have something to hide. But will it be too late to before the wrong person to chosen to be Pope.
From the very start, there is a sense of loss and ambition in the air. As some cardinals close to the late Pope grieve, others have already rallied votes in preparation of Conclave. This very clearly establishes the tone of the film, this is not about religion, thankfully. The intrigue and suspicion is set and it is left to Lawrence, played with absolute reverence and stability by Ralph Fiennes, to investigate along with his colleague, Monsignor Raymond O’Malley to find out exactly what the cardinals are planning. Each cardinal represents a faction of the church, each vying for control, wanting change or waiting to continue the late Pope’s work. It is continuously noted by several characters, these men are not perfect, they are all flawed.