Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Conclave (2024)!Conclave stars Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini explained the religious film’s ending, specifically the symbolism of the turtle and giggling nuns. The film focuses on the election of a new pope following the sudden death of the current religious leader, leading to a series of characters having secrets revealed that make them ineligible for the role. Eventually, a Mexican archbishop, Vincent Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz), is elected to the position at the end of Conclave. The film includes a lot of symbolism, such as turtles, and ends with three nuns laughing after Benitez’s election.
Talking to Today about the film’s ending, Fiennes and Rossellini explained the symbolism Conclaveis ending. Fiennes expressed how the film’s continuous display of turtles symbolizes “spiritual independence“, intertwining with his own characterization and the secrets of others throughout the film. As for the final scene of three giggling nuns, Rossellini, who plays Sister Agnes, interpreted it as the claustrophobia of the Sistine Chapel being broken now that a new pope has finally been chosen – despite the secret he still keeps, just like everyone else. . Check out what Fiennes and Rossellini said below:
Ralph Fiennes: They are a charming and beautiful little animal. Amphibians, and aren’t they a kind of symbol of spiritual independence? I think maybe they are.
Isabella Rossellini: I think there is this feeling of claustrophobia, because everyone is inside the Sistine Chapel. They are isolated, and then when you open up there is not only the women and the laughter, but there is also the light, the sun, the air, and I think that was the contrast with that moment of great claustrophobia,
Ralph Fiennes: I think there’s something about the fact that the claustrophobia is broken and we see three nuns laughing, and I think it’s a wonderful gesture to end the film after you’ve been cooped up with all these men for two hours.
What Fiennes and Rossellini’s interpretations mean for the end of the conclave
Ending symbolism is important to the film’s themes
Although many secrets held by potential pope candidates ultimately exclude them from eligibility, Benitez also has one, revealing that he was born intersex shortly before being elected. However, Lawrence decides not to reveal this information to anyone else, remaining faithful to the ideals of his friend, the old Pope, by letting him go. Turtle symbolism ties into this, emphasizing faith in an interpretive way that helps explain why ConclaveThe positive reviews emphasize the way it approaches the event of electing a new religious leader.
Both the turtles and the smiling nuns that appear near the end show how Lawrence made the right decisionputting an end to the dramatic tension of the electoral decisions made, simply allowing BenÃtez’s secret to remain hidden. Since the characters of Conclave are likely to continue debating and trying to find a new candidate if their secret is revealed, hiding it ends the conflict and offers a viable candidate for pope. The symbols therefore emphasize the end of chaos, even if it means continuing to keep an important secret under wraps.
Our opinion on the symbolism of the end of the Conclave
The story comes full circle
The final symbols in Conclave help bring the film to a satisfying conclusion, indicating not only Lawrence’s independent interpretation of his faith, but how his decision ended the conflict in the church. Without keeping Benitez’s secret, a spiral of events could have occurred, resulting in continued mystery and drama that would have kept the Church trapped without a pope. The decision ends the film on a controversial note. However, it is somewhat in keeping with the story, along with its symbolism about independent faith being as important as organized faith.
Source: Today