Conclave

Karren Alenier

On November 6, 2024, the Steiny Road Poet woke up unable to turn her head right or left—a case of stiff neck. For Steiny, it was a case of subterranean stress. She didn't even stay up watching the election returns. However, a stiff neck meant her plan to go swing dancing was dashed. Catching a film, an activity where everyone is holding the head still, seemed the only possible alternative.

Although she had not been keen to see Conclave by director Edward  Berger and screenwriter Peter Straughan—it's another film like The Two Popes about the election of a pope—the reviews were highly laudatory, and this screening was in her favorite art house cinema. Furthermore, like The Two Popes, Conclave features accomplished actors such as Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. The cast and the script make this an outstanding film. Furthermore, the election of a pope with its political maneuvering  and scandals, resonates with what the American public has just experienced.

The story is told through the eyes of Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence (renown English actor Ralph Fiennes) who wants only to guide the congregation of cardinals such that they pick a worthy candidate. As the sequestered cardinals begin the process of voting, a mysterious cardinal appears. Formerly the Archbishop Vincent Benitez of Kabul (Carlos Diehz), he says he was secretly elevated to cardinal just before the late pope died. The Cardinal-Dean admits Benitez and the voting begins favoring four candidates.

These candidates are a liberal with views like the late pope (Bellini as played by Stanley Tucci), a socially conservative Nigerian (Adeyemi as played by Lucian Msamati), a mainstream conservative (Tremblay as played by John Lithgow) and a reactionary who supports reversing parts of the Second Vatican Council (Tedesco as played by Sergio Castellitto). Initially Tremblay and Tedesco seem to be the most likely possibilities. Adeyemi fails when a nun appears who had an affair with him that produced a child. Bellini who is a co-leader with Laurence of the cardinals says he (Bellini) is only running to prevent Tedesco from taking the Catholic church backwards. Then as the cardinals erupt in a riot of yelling men, Tremblay is outed by Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini) for arranging to have Adeyemi's lover at the conclave. For Steiny, this is a major turn in the story when a woman, a second class citizen of the Catholic Church, provides the voice of truth.

Meanwhile, the unknown Benitez gets under the skin of the Cardinal-Dean by repeatedly voting for him. Laurence is adamant that he doesn't want to be pope, but Benitez insists the dean is the only person worthy of the position. Steiny ventures to say if someone who has not seen the film ventures a guess as to how the film ends, that filmgoer might get part of it right, but not the whole thing. It's a surprising end like no other. 

Unlike the stunning outcome of the 2024 United States presidential election, the conclusion of Conclave restores Steiny's faith in human goodness and unity. Lots of Tender Buttons to be admired in this film. Steiny can feel her stiff neck relaxing.