“Conclave”: a Vatican intrigue that ends up making water

Conclave: In the religious sphere, meeting of the Cardinals of the Catholic Church to choose a new Pope. This meeting is confidential and is held under the invocation of the Holy Spirit.

Robert Harrisauthor of Best-Sellers on historical figures and vices of power, wrote in 2016 the novel “Conclave”where he imagines the internal struggle between opening and conservative cardinals, and the human ambition to reach the position of Sumo Pontiff. “Each of us already has chosen the name that will take if they consecrate it”says one of them. It is an almost entirely attraeted work, full of intrigue, suspense and some bad milk.

They took her to the cinema Edward Bergerwho comes from winning the Oscar for a free version of “All quiet on the front”and the screenwriter Peter Straughanwho almost wins it for its adaptation of the novel “The Topo”of John Le Carré.

With them participated many producers, production designers Suzie Davis (“Mr. Turner”) and Roberta Federic For this film he imitated the redst and luxurious cardinal clothing of the seventeenth century, and a precious cast headed by Ralph Fiennes (Cardinal Camelango, that is, who happens interimly to the Pope and organizes and controls the order of the conclave), Stanley Tucci (the humble false), John Lightow (the intriguing), Lucian Msamati (the African), Sergio Castellito (the hard preconciliar), Isabella Rossellini (Sister Superior), and Carlos Diehz (At last a Hollywood film where a Mexican is good and not narco).

As you cannot film in the Sistine Chapel, the almost natural size copy in Cinecittá was restored. There was also a gloomy version of the Santa Marta residence, where the notables are going to eat and rest. Some corners of Palazzo Dei Congressi served to complete scenarios. With all this, on the screen there are environments, clothes and carpets of great pomp, conspiracies, secrets and serrurucadas of varied scope, changes of opinion and front that maintain alert the expectation of the public, very good performers and a story that until the last minute It is not known how it will end, because at least one thinks a cover appears that turns the game.

You have to see how. All of that is the good part. What can go wrong? Well, just the final part, especially the last secret that comes to light, which sounds ridiculous and unnecessary, for more progressive and “politically correct” that he wanted to be, and instead it seems rather a nuisance related to the famous legend of Papisa Juana.

From the rest, minor oversights can be overlooked (the amount of voters in each instance, the location of the dean in the room, the place where the prior sentence is made to the conclave) or the oblivion of the three African potatoes that were in old Times (Victor, Melquiades and Gelasio). It is more rare that in this film no prelate goes to Mass, nor say the slightest phrase in Latin or refers, even if it is passed, a biblical verse, an encyclical, a theological study, and that everyone accepts as a candidate for the chair of San Pedro to a cardinal who does not present the slightest text of his authorship, not even the draft of a sermon, of which practically nothing is known and he combs like the mono.

For more, it is an alleged cardinal “in pertore”. This is what the Pontiff is already designated, but that designation must be made public so that the chosen one is really considered a cardinal. If the Pope dies before presenting it, the designation is canceled. Spot. The novel and the film invent a postmortum recognition half rocambolesco, and with that the debacle begins where the story is irremediably click. A pity.

Well, it is logical that a best-seller has those lightness. Even worse if the advisor on Vatican issues chosen by production is a such Eric Frattini, author of books such as “Hitler died in the bunker?”, “The black book of the Vatican”, “The crows of the Vatican” (both, with The reports of the CIA regarding papal policy) and the most innocent “the potatoes and sex”, which was sold in the subway kiosks. With all this, some enthusiasts say “The film that the Catholic Church does not want you to see”. But the well -informed Catholic, if he sees her, kills laugh.

“Conclave” (Conclave, USA-Gran Britain, 2024); Dir.: Edward Berger; Int.: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellito, Isabella Rossellini, Lucian Msamati, Carlos Diehz.