After the death of the Pope, Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading the conclave to recruit a successor with rumour and conflict threatening to overtake the Vatican’s battle for power in Edward Berger’s thriller Conclave.
There is no certainty
by Chris DrewConclave
CAUTION: Here be spoilers
Director Edward Berger’s follow-up to the Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front is thoroughly gripping and engrossing from the opening strings of the tremendous score, which rachets up the tension throughout.
We follow Dean Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes, The English Patient) hastening to the Pope’s private chamber to find a group of cardinals surrounding the body of the pontiff.
Ascertaining a timeline of events and we discover that the Pope’s final meeting was with Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow, Terms of Endearment) but quickly the focus becomes the selection of a successor and the task of undertaking the conclave falls to Cardinal Lawrence.
It is an unexpected and daunting burden of responsibility for the Dean as he exclaims “hell arrives tomorrow when we bring in the cardinals”.
As cardinals from all over the world descend on the Vatican, we learn who the main contenders are; liberal Bellini (Stanley Tucci, The Devil Wears Prada), traditionalist Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto, Paris Je T’aime), African contender Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati, The Good Liar) and Tremblay.
There is intrigue and uncertainty at every turn of the process, beginning with the arrival of a hitherto unknown Cardinal from Kabul, Benitez (Carlos Diehz, feature debut) who Lawrence rules eligible to participate in the process.
Lawrence has to navigate the revelation – orchestrated by one of the cardinals – of a scandal from Adeyemi’s past, rumours of a withdrawn report about Tremblay’s conduct and speculation of unspecified health issues for one of the candidates. There are secret meetings as the various voting factions look for every possible strategic gain.
The repeated voting increases the growing tension and suspense against a backdrop of outside violence and huge public anticipation. A stunning late reveal is expertly told.
Adapted from Robert Harris’ novel, Berger’s film is beautifully crafted throughout with excellent production design and costuming, in addition to the superbly effective score.
Of course the stacked cast is one of the film’s major draws and they deliver across the board led by a wonderful central performance from Fiennes.
Lawrence is conflicted throughout with doubts over his role in the church and the need to investigate concerns whilst shielding the cardinals while they are sequestered. Having to be the voice of reason and order he is also the most emotional about the Pope’s death and is surprised by his own emergence as a contender in the succession process.
It is a great showcase for the two-time Oscar nominee and one which could well see him recognised by the Academy for the first time in approaching 30 years.
Tucci and Lithgow are both typically compelling, Castellitto is a standout as the passionate and sinister Tedesco while Diehz does excellent work as the mysterious Benitez. On the edges of the conclave Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet) is Sister Agnes, the face of the nuns, and has some impactful moments.
An excellent grown-up dramatic thriller, Conclave is deserving of a large audience and its place in the upcoming awards season.
Conclave premiered at TIFF 2024, screened at the BFI London Film Festival on 10 (LFF premiere), 11 and 16 October 2024. It is released on 29 November 2024 in the UK.
