Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) and based on a 2016 novel of the same name, Conclave is a tense drama that pits progress, ethics, coexistence, and empathy against corruption and abuses of power, a battle which plays out in the form of a papal conclave (the election of a new pope). With a suspense-filled and quotable screenplay written by Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and an all-star cast which includes seasoned veterans like Ralph Fiennes (Spectre), Stanley Tucci (Undercover Blues), John Lithgow (Harry and the Hendersons), and Isabella Rossellini (Incredibles 2), Conclave is just the kind of movie you’d expect to see during awards season: artful, star-studded, powerful, and, most importantly, relevant. It tells the kind of story that ignites conversations and gets people thinking about the complexities of power, progress, politics, and faith. As such, it would have been all too easy for a filmmaker to adapt the Robert Harris novel as a highly intellectual and dry film that appeals only to academics and movie buffs who feel obligated to watch it. However, that’s not the route that Berger takes. Instead, he effortlessly transitions the story to the screen by dressing it up in all the trappings of a mystery/thriller. If you missed Conclave in theaters because it looked too dry and serious, this reviewer urges you to give it a chance now that it’s available on digital. It’s not what you would call a Hollywood blockbuster, but it’s surprisingly riveting — and incredibly relevant.
For a spoiler-free review, head over to EoM Contributor Justin Waldman’s initial Toronto International Film Festival 2024 review.
Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence in director Edward Berger’s CONCLAVE, a Focus Features release. Photo Credit: Philippe Antonello/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Despite its religious context, Conclave plays out like an intense political thriller in which secrets, deception, and intrigue all play a key role. In this fictionalized version of the centuries-old election process, Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes), the dean of the College of Cardinals and a close friend of the recently deceased pope, has the unenviable task of organizing and facilitating the election of the next Holy Father. This task requires him to balance his liberal politics and waning faith with his role as a manager and leader. As a progressive catholic, Lawrence is garnering support for his colleague Aldo Bellini (Tucci), an outwardly humble contender who, despite not wanting to take on the responsibility of the papacy, is the best candidate for stopping reactionary traditionalist Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) from stepping into power and undoing years of progress. Other hopefuls for the position include Cardinal Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) from Nigeria and Cardinal Joseph Tremblay (Lithgow) from Canada. Just before the conclave begins, a disheveled and guilt-ridden archbishop (Jacek Koman) comes to Cardinal Lawrence with a confession and a secret that casts a shadow of doubt over Tremblay’s eligibility to be pope. Meanwhile, Lawrence also finds himself investigating rumors surrounding a newcomer, Cardinal Benitez of Kabul (Carlos Diehz), whom the previous pope promoted in secret. With each casting of the ballots, Lawrence’s burden as the manager of the conclave brings his doubts and uncertainties ever closer to the surface.
John Lithgow stars as Cardinal Tremblay in director Edward Berger’s CONCLAVE, a Focus Features release. Photo Credit: Philippe Antonello/Focus Features. ©2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
If you were to browse through the mystery/thriller section of a bookstore and create a mood board based on the book covers you saw, you’d end up with something that gives off the same vibes as Conclave. Berger gets the mood and look of the film exactly right, effectively bringing the thrill and intrigue of a mystery novel to life. The film is set almost entirely within the dim residential halls and boarded-up chapel in which the conclave takes place, exuding a sense of paranoia and distrust as it draws viewers into sequestration with the cardinals. The film has a dark and gloomy look with a muted and dreary color palette, save for the blood-red accents of the cardinals’ cassocks. It’s filled with shadowy sequences in haunting hallways where the cardinals exchange secrets in whispers, creating feelings of suspense and dread. The string-heavy score by Volker Bertelmann enhances those eerie feelings with roughly played horror-movie-esque chords that bite into moments of suspense. The combination of Stéphane Fontaine’s intense cinematography and Nick Emerson’s precise editing also creates feelings of claustrophobia and dread, keeping us close to the action by capturing every paranoid glance and every passing whisper of emotion on the cardinals’ faces. (To get an inside look at how Berger and the filmmakers behind Conclave created that sense of suspense, check out the “Sequestered” featurette available with your digital purchase, or watch the director’s commentary for a deeper dive).
Sergio Castellitto as Cardinal Tedesco in director Edward Berger’s CONCLAVE, a Focus Features release. Photo Credit: Focus Features. ©2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Despite the suspense, Conclave isn’t the kind of movie that lets you get lost in the plot and forget about everything else — especially if you’re an American watching the film in 2024 on the heels of the presidential election. It’s almost impossible to see Conclave as a strictly fictional story about a papal election and not as a symbolic commentary about the higher-level issues surrounding political corruption, misuse of power, and the struggle for social justice. When Cardinal Tremblay vehemently denies the accusations brought against him, layering lie upon lie to work his way out of a scandal, you’re not thinking about the fictional cardinal and his character development, you’re thinking about the real-life politicians, CEOs, and religious leaders who have talked their way out of accusations of crimes and abuses of power. When votes begin to stack up in Tedesco’s favor, you’re not thinking about what a potential win for the traditional cardinal might mean for the plot of the movie, you’re thinking about what wins for far-right groups mean in the United States and around the world. When Benitez delivers his moving impromptu speech to the cardinal electors toward the end of the film, you’re only partially wondering how his words will impact this fictionalized election. Mostly, you’re thinking about whether or not you want to copy/paste his speech into a passive-aggressive Facebook status.
A scene in director Edward Berger’s CONCLAVE, a Focus Features release. Photo Credit: Focus Features. ©2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
And yet, Conclave isn’t so heavy-handed and symbolic that you can’t appreciate or follow the story. Just as it had the potential to be a very dry academic film, Conclave could have also been a corny, self-important, and pandering movie that sacrifices tone and believability to get its message across. Granted, it has its moments of unrealistically elevated dialogue and corny sentimentality. But thanks to Berger’s masterfully crafted suspense and the cast’s nuanced performances, Conclave works as both a captivating thriller and a politically charged film that speaks directly to the present moment. By setting such a serious and suspenseful mood, Berger is able to tell a story that we can also take seriously, even when its messaging is a little too direct. The film’s air of mystery, secrecy, and thrill, combined with the cast’s rock-solid performances, make its overt messages more palatable.
L-R: Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence and Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Bellini in director Edward Berger’s CONCLAVE, a Focus Features release. Photo courtesy of Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Conclave is an interesting hybrid and an incredibly timely film that can speak to a wide range of viewers. Whether you watch it for the first time at home or revisit it after seeing it in theaters, challenge yourself not to take the easy route of seeing yourself only in the wise and composed Cardinal Lawrence. As you recognize parallels between the plot and the present time, look for yourself in Cardinal Bellini, whose ambition skews his sense of justice. Look for yourself in Cardinal Tedesco and his fear of change. Look for yourself in Cardinal Tremblay, who convincingly justifies his corruption to himself and others. If you must see yourself in Cardinal Lawrence, see yourself in him at the end of Conclave when the limits of his liberal theology are tested. Don’t use the epigraph-worthy quotes in Conclave solely to prop up your own sense of progress and social justice, but as reminders to always question what you think you know. Look beyond the film’s obvious messages and find the ways that it challenges you to be more tolerant, more empathetic, and more loving. When you watch it in this way, you might find that this exceptionally crafted film has even more to offer.
Conclave Special Features*:
- Sequestered: Inside Conclave – Go behind the scenes with the cast and filmmakers to see what it took to raise the curtain on one of the most secretive and secluded processes in the world.
- Feature Commentary with Director Edward Berger
*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer
Available on digital November 26th, 2024.
Available on Blu-ray and DVD December 17th, 2024.
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray February 11th, 2025.
Final Score: 4.5 out of 5
For more information, head to the official Focus Features Conclave webpage.
Share this:
Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Recommendation
Leave a Reply