‘Conclave’ probes the treachery in electing a new Pope

In director Edward Berger’s “Conclave,” Roman Catholic cardinals convene to choose a new Pope, a formidable task given the political intrigue and jockeying for power. With everyone sequestered for the duration of the election, the twists and turns keep revealing depths of deceitful, cunning machinations. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow hold center stage in dynamic, combative performances.

The dark hallways and claustrophobic rooms hide secrets. The grand staircases and expansive halls reveal none, despite their beguiling but deceptive openness. Confrontations between cardinals dominate the interaction, with Cardinal Lawrence, dean of the College of Cardinals, struggling with his own crisis of faith. Crafty staging, evocative lighting, and strong compositions metaphorically convey this world of secrecy and scheming including a subtext of geographical bias. Adding a critical female voice to the Machiavellian proceedings, Sister Agnes (a superb Isabella Rossellini) sees, hears, and speaks more astutely than the officious men.

At the discussion after the screening I attended at this year’s Telluride Film Festival, director Berger revealed that this idea had a five-year germination. He added that the staggering performances by Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence and Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Bellini of the Vatican, Lawrence’s antagonist, determined where he put the camera. He added that, though contrasts in their approach to acting, both reveal volumes through their observant eyes, nonverbal mannerisms, and verbal delivery. Berger also loved the architecture (especially the Sistine Chapel they had to partially build and complete with digital extensions), the contrast between the archaic (the cassocks and ritual) and modernity (especially the cell phones).

Unfolding like an intricate, masterfully played chess match, Cardinal Lawrence guides the proceedings: seeking the truth, reacting to dangerous revelations, fighting for spirituality, and fearing the outcome of the virulent power plays. A taut thriller and a fascinating dramatization of religious duplicity, “Conclave,” one of this year’s best films, is available now. Check listings.