Conclave

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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The cinema has a long history of Catholic Church films — Henry King’s “The Song of Bernadette,” Hitchcock’s “I Confess,” Ron Howard’s “The Da Vinci Code,” Paul Verhoeven’s controversial “Benedetta,” and countless others. Now from Edward Berger (“All Quiet on the Western Front”) here is “Conclave.” The film is visually striking, claustrophobic, well-acted and eerie but it is narratively tepid.

Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is anguished. The Pope has suddenly passed away. Lawrence is charged with commencing the vote for a new pope.

Lawrence learns that Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) was asked to resign by the late revered pope, and that Tremblay took bribes for votes. Further Lawrence learns of illicit behavior from cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati). Lawrence learns of so many secrets that the conclave begins to suspect him of being self-righteous and overly ambitious. Guilt weighs heavily upon him. In this aspect, the film is excellent. Fiennes has as much mental blight as Montgomery Clift in the aforementioned Hitchcock film.

Lawrence gives a compelling speech about the value of imperfection and doubt. This is one of the finest moments in the film.

Last but not least, doubts are raised about the health of Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz), who is oddly withdrawn.

Isabella Rossellini appears as a strict and formal nun who handles all drama as a matter of course.

The plot slows a bit during endless dialogue passages between Lawrence and the outspoken Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci). There are several closed-door meetings and furtive whisperings. That being said, the performances are understated and first rate. Despite some overly familiar shadowy recesses and gloomy corridors, you will feel the psychological magnetism that is contained in the gothic clamshell known as The Vatican, as well as the force of empathy and its vibrations of pain.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com