The Conclave is a 2006 Canadian-German historical film directed by Christoph Schrewe and written by Paul Donovan. The cast includes Manu Fullola, Nora Tschirner, BRIAN BLESSED, James Faulkner and Peter Guinness.
The plot centers on the conclave of 1458 in Rome, which took place five years after The Fall of Constantinople to the Turks. The story material was sourced from a diary written by Silvius Aeneas Piccolomini, the only cardinal to ever record the secret proceedings of a papal conclave, and who himself was elected Pope as Pius II in that conclave. The film hinges on the drama surrounding a 27-year-old Spanish Cardinal, Rodrigo Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI), as he struggles to save both his career and his life.
Not to be confused with 2024's Conclave, which is about a fictional modern-day Conclave.
This film provides examples of the following tropes:
- Artistic License – History:
- The historical character of Giuliano della Rovere, later known as Pope Julius II. He's adult and a bishop in the film, whereas in real life he was only 15 at the time (the actor, Matthias Koeberlin, was 32).
- Rodrigo Borgia and Vannozza dei Cattanei started their affair in 1466, while here they're lovers in 1458 already.
- Artistic Title: The film's opening credits are made of various paintings from The Late Middle Ages and The Renaissance, with some pseudo-3D effects.
- Attack the Mouth: One of the soldiers protecting Rodrigo during the attack of the Orsinis received a crossbow bolt straight in the mouth.
- Bald Mystic: A number of the Cardinals are either bald or have the medieval tonsure
. - Churchgoing Villain: Cardinal Latino Orsini has no qualms ordering the death of people who stand in his way to the Holy See.
- Corrupt Politician: Behind the religious facade, the cardinals are also this.
- After his attempt to murder Rodrigo, Cardinal Latino Orsini tries to corrupt him into becoming a vassal. It doesn't work.
- Cardinal Guillaume D'Estouteville tries his hardest to convince Rodrigo to vote for him without resorting to the same extremes as Orsini, promising to maintain Rodrigo's status as Vice-Chancellor if he gets elected.
- Everyone Has Standards: Guillaume D'Estouteville despises Latino Orsini and says if he tries to murder one of his cardinals, he'll have his castle besieged.
- Feuding Families: As usual for works set in Rome during the Italian Renaissance, the Orsini-Colonna rivalry is brought up.
- For Doom the Bell Tolls: Not sor much for "doom" per se, but all the bells of Rome ring a death knell when Pope Callixtus III is on the verge of dying.
- Historical Domain Character: Most of the film's characters existed in Real Life.
- Interrupted Intimacy: Rodrigo is busy in bed with his paramour Vannozza dei Cattanei when they are interrupted by a servant opening the door, and then by Giuliano Della Rovere who's come to seek Rodrigo.
- Narrator: The film opens on a narration by Cardinal Guillaume D'Estouteville (James Faulkner).
- Nepotism: Rodrigo was made a Cardinal by his uncle, Pope Callixtus III (born Alfonso de Borgia).
- Papal Election: The eponymous Conclave of 1458 following the death of Pope Callixtus III.
- Plot-Triggering Death: The death of Pope Callixtus III causes a new Conclave and thus the plot.
- Sinister Minister: Cardinal Latino Orsini is willing to kill Rodrigo if it can improve his chances of becoming the next Pope.
- Sleazy Politician: Cardinal Latino Orsini will stop at nothing to prevent Rodrigo from getting involved at the top of the Church, including trying to have him killed.
