Note for non-Czech-speakers: the majority of Conclave is in English, but about 25 percent is in Latin, Italian, and Spanish, subtitled only in Czech in Prague cinemas.
A disillusioned cardinal must navigate politics and mystery while leading the selection of a new pope in Conclave, now playing in Prague cinemas after premiering at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this fall. Thanks to a narrative packed with unexpected twists and turns, and procedural-like direction from Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), this sharp drama operates as both a finely-tuned thriller as well as fascinating look behind the scenes at the Vatican.
Conclave is bolstered by an exceptional cast, led by a mesmerizing Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence, who bids farewell to the former pope in the film’s opening scene. A good friend of the recently deceased, Lawrence had requested to resign from the church, but was refused; he comes to realize that the former pope had intended for him, specifically, to lead the search for his successor.
That search takes place during the titular conclave within the walls of the Vatican, where the College of Cardinals gathers in seclusion to elect the new pope. Papal conclaves have been memorably depicted in previous films, including the Tom Hanks Robert Langdon thriller Angels & Demons, but never as intimate—and thrilling—as shown here.
The papal election process is explicitly reminiscent of modern politics. Favorites for the position of head of the Catholic Church are American Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci), a liberal and personal friend of Lawrence who claims not to want the job; Italian Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), a hardline conservative; Canadian Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow), a moderate conservative; and Nigerian Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), vying to be the first African pope.
Lawrence leads his fellow Cardinals in the selection process, and seems to advocate for Bellini—or perhaps even himself—during an impassioned speech in which he urges them to vote in favor of candidates who express doubt or uncertainty.
But Lawrence himself, overcoming a crisis of faith, is unsure how far he should intervene when he hears that the dead pope had dismissed Tremblay in their final meeting, or when a scene is made between a nun and Adeyemi. There are few actors as good as Fiennes at conveying internal turmoil with minimal expression, and he delivers some of his finest work in Conclave, sure to land him year-end awards.
Added to the mystery at the papal conclave is the appearance of Vincent Benitez, the Archbishop of Kabul, who none of the other cardinals have met—but who was made a cardinal in secret by the former pope, and has served the Church in war zones and other dangerous locales.
The political thriller narrative in Conclave is entirely engaging, and director Berger masterfully leads the audience through key events without a wasted scene or line of dialogue. But it also deceptively conceals its provocative underlying theme until a potent finale.
Isabella Rossellini has a small but key role as Sister Agnes, who tells the cardinals, “I know we women should remain silent,” before addressing them with a vital piece of information. But her role takes on greater significance with Conclave’s unanticipated and perhaps even shocking final reveal.
Conclave was adapted from the 2016 novel by Robert Harris (The Ghost Writer) by screenwriter Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), and it’s been given the first-rate treatment here, with Berger’s efficient direction elevated by a phenomenal cast operating at the top of their game; beyond Fiennes, Castellitto is a standout. An evocative score by Volker Bertelmann (Lion) and trenchant cinematography by Stéphane Fontaine (Captain Fantastic), shooting a replica Vatican built for the film at Cinecittà Studios, adds to the immersive atmosphere.
A two-hour movie about the election of a new pope and set entirely within the walls of the Vatican may not sound like particularly thrilling material, but Conclave is a masterclass in tension and intrigue that fires on all cylinders and is guaranteed to end up on many lists of the best films of 2024.
