Exhausted by the general election debates and debacles? Still reeling from the election results in the US? Annoyed at how early the ray of sunshine that is Mike left The Great British Bake-Off? I know. The latter in particular felt like a real sign that the will of the people is meaningless in these dark times.

So for a bit of escapism, why not turn to a thrilling drama about a fictional election, that still addresses all-too-real issues of politics, petty egos, and the role of papal power in modern society. Based on the pot-boiler novel by Robert Harris, Conclave, directed by Edward Berger, is a gripping and smart political drama. It’s set within the Vatican's sacred walls, where the College of Cardinals convenes to select the next Pope.

Ralph Fiennes shines as Cardinal Lawrence, the Dean presiding over the election, grappling with his own crisis of faith as well as the heavy responsibility thrust upon him. The diverse cast - including Stanley Tucci as the liberal Cardinal Bellini who wants to let women into the Church; John Lithgow as a scheming candidate who knows how to play the game; and Lucian Msamati as an African bishop with a hidden past - creates a compelling ensemble where every character’s ambitions, weaknesses and secrets come to the forefront.

While openly vying for power is seen as gauche and an undesirable trait in a potential Pope, all candidates are secretly gunning for the role, scheming and campaigning behind each other’s backs, and some unseemly facts about each other’s pasts are uncovered and used as blackmail. But as well as being about personal ambition, the film is also about ideology, with each candidate representing a specific possibility for the future of the Church – will the Church embrace modern liberalism, regress to staunch traditionalism, or make a symbolic gesture by electing a Black pope, who will nevertheless maintain bigotry and exclusion?

As votes get counted and some candidates seem to be leading, arguments are made and allegiances constantly shift, as cardinals weigh up the danger of aiming for an ideal and ending up with the worst possible outcome. As they grapple with the decision to pursue their desired outcome or play it safe by settling for the status quo, rather than see their ideological opposite voted in, the election becomes a game of Machiavellian chess. Candidates start dancing around the possibility of making a deal with the devil – all while each character tries to maintain a façade of civility, humility and decorum.

This focus on substance and process is seen in Berger’s direction, which invites the viewer into not only the grand, ornate beauty of the Sistine chapel, but also to the worlds and details behind the scenes. We see the luxurious, but cold and claustrophobic, hallways and dorm rooms of the Cardinals; the kitchens where their food is made; the folding of lush paper on which each vote is written; and the humble office from which a head nun (Isabella Rossellini) observes the pettiness of flawed men, who hold the fate of the Church in their jewellery-bedecked hands.

Cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine captures the stunning architecture and the cardinals’ striking red robes with meticulous detail, contrasting the sterile grandeur with the petty human politics at play. As the priests are cocooned within the walls of the Vatican for the vote, the isolation and claustrophobia adds to the tension as we witness these men, sequestered in so many ways from the outside world, decide what to do with it. But in ways both literal and metaphorical, the outside world comes rushing in, ramping up the tension.

The film pulses with electricity, fuelled by razor-sharp dialogue, strong performances, and a plot full of unexpected twists that keep the audience on edge. Pacy, dynamic, deliciously twisty and with some unexpected humour, the entire cast put in glorious performances.

One development in the final act feels too much like a cowardly ‘gotcha’ moment, side-stepping the opportunity for real exploration for a cheap reveal. It feels disappointing, particularly considering the psychological and emotional intelligence on display throughout the rest of the film. But overall, Conclave proves to be a thrilling and provocative film that pulls you into its labyrinth of intrigue, and leaves you reflecting on the nature of power and faith long after the credits roll.

• • In cinemas now. Watch the trailer below: