In the realm of 2024 cinema, one monologue stands out - a sermon that forms the heart of the mystery-thriller "Conclave". Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (portrayed by Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with leading the conclave of world cardinals to elect the next pope. As part of his duties, he delivers an opening homily to over 100 influential Catholic leaders, addressing various controversial topics such as women's ordination, interfaith relations, and LGBTQ+ rights. His colleagues advise him to play it safe, but instead, he decides to preach about the virtue of doubt. "There is one sin which I have come to fear above all others: certainty," he says. "Certainty is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance. Even Christ was not certain at the end. … Let us pray that God will grant us a pope who doubts, and let him grant us a pope who sins and asks for forgiveness and who carries on."

Characters Who Doubt and Seek Justice

A Real Pain

In this dark comedy, two American cousins with distinct personalities - a responsible and aloof Jesse Eisenberg and a charming yet reckless Kieran Culkin - reunite in Poland for a Holocaust remembrance tour. They hope this journey will help them honor their recently deceased grandmother and their Jewish heritage. Against the backdrop of gas chambers, tombstones, and hotel dining rooms, accompanied by a group of strangers, the cousins search for ways to process their personal and inherited grief.

God & Country

Culture columnist Abby Olcese describes "God & Country" as a crash-course in understanding how a hyper-conservative, white-dominant minority became a vocal voting bloc. Leaning on interviews with faith leaders like Rev. William J. Barber II and others, the documentary aims to interrogate common Christian nationalist arguments and show viewers how to thwart this movement's ascent.

Furiosa

In the prequel to "Mad Max: Fury Road", we learn how Furiosa became the woman who would liberate the enslaved "breeders/wives" of the tyrannical Immortan Joe. As pointed out by contributing editor JR. Forasteros, this action film is an Exodus story. Both Moses and Furiosa were born into slavery, experienced the comforts of empire, and then led oppressed peoples to a promised land. Their stories prompt viewers to consider how those in the lap of the empire can act as agents of liberation.

Heretic

Zachary Lee writes that the "biggest scare" of this religious horror film isn't demonic or paranormal but the unique terror of a theological conversation with a self-righteous man. Mr. Reed invites two missionaries into his house, feigning curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In reality, he wants to test their faith by bringing the young women closer to death. Heretic is both scary and theologically stirring, reminding viewers that perhaps the true heretics are not those who doubt but those who are certain.

Leap of Faith

A couple of years ago, 12 pastors from different political and theological backgrounds agreed to meet over a year. They aimed to find a way to love each other despite their differences and allowed Nicholas Ma and Morgan Neville to film the process. The resulting documentary, as written by Jim McDermott, is a hopeful and raw portrayal that doesn't shy away from silence or vulnerability, offering a revelatory look at what it's like to be a pastor today.

Dune: Part Two

In this spectacle of speculative fiction, religion and politics are intricately intertwined. Political elites have spent centuries preparing for a messiah-figure to emerge and start a holy war. Paul Atreides initially dismisses the false prophecy, but as the film progresses, his integrity weakens as his enemies grow stronger. As Ezra Craker writes, "being the messiah comes in handy in moments of political and military desperation. That kind of influence is hard to resist."

Exhibiting Forgiveness

"Exhibiting Forgiveness" focuses on the reunion of Tarrell (André Holland) with his estranged father, La’Ron (John Earl Jelks), who was abusive during Tarrell's childhood. Now recovering from addiction, La’Ron seeks reconciliation and forgiveness. Director Titus Kaphar searches for a way to forgive without forgetting in this autobiographical feature-film debut. "Forgiving doesn't mean - shouldn't have to mean - that you are putting yourself back in a dangerous situation," he said. "You can forgive and go a different path."

Between the Temples

Ben Gottlieb is a newly widowed middle-aged cantor who has lost his voice and his purpose in life. Carla Kessler O’Connor is a free-spirited septuagenarian who wants to take Ben's bat mitzvah class at the synagogue (her non-Jewish parents never allowed her to have the ceremony as a child). The premise of this film makes it seem like a quirky age-gap romance, and it is in some ways. But it is also a warm, surprising, and hilarious portrait of how two misfits skirted religious convention to find spiritual belonging with each other.

Conclave

"Conclave" offers a thrilling and humanizing look at the papal election process, a secretive event that few get to witness. The film uses color, silence, and a powerful monologue by Sister Agnes (portrayed by Isabella Rossellini) to critique the patriarchal power structures of the Vatican. As Sarah Vincent writes in her review, "in the beginning, the critique only simmers in the visual imagery, the background to the political maneuvering. But by the end of the movie, it has taken center stage."Want more ideas about what to watch? Check out these other film roundups:+Sojourners’ Top Movies and TV Shows of 2023+Sojourners’ 2022 Film and TV Roundup to Inspire Faith and Justice+Sojourners’ 2021 Film and TV Roundup