TL;DR – An exquisitely acted and produced film that takes you into a world rarely seen with the weight of a drama but with all the fascination of a political intrigue.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I paid to watch this film.

Conclave Review –

It is tough to see honest explorations of faith and religion in modern cinema. When films exploring faith come out of Hollywood, they usually feel like hollow vessels divorced from reality. But then you watch movies that come out of the faith-based industry, and more often than not, you are watching trumped-up emotional blackmail hiding under the frame of faith. So, call me surprised when I sat down to watch Conclave and discovered something different.   

So, to set the scene, the Pope is dead, long live the Pope. If there is ever an organisation that has embraced the pomp and circumstance, it is the Catholic Church, and this happens in death just as much or even more than life. Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), who is Dean of the College of Cardinals, has to convene a conclave to pick the next Pope even though he feels unworthy of the task. However, as cardinals fly in from across the globe, it is clear that there is tension regarding how the Church will move forward. Will it embrace tradition or modernity? Or maybe somewhere in between.

Before we get into the performances, I do want to take a moment to talk about the production. This is an exquisitely filmed production with a clear intentionality in every scene. The sea of red as the cardinals arrive, the lingering on the cigarettes on the floor, the way the large roof of the Sistine Chapel dwarves all those who enter it. The hushed conversation in the corners, the immaculate glare of the spotlight, and how small movements signal larger meanings. This extends to the soundscapes, which sometimes attack you with strings like you were in a dual for your life and sparing off against the orchestra. There are also moments of deliberate silence and when the film will let a sound effect like a rattling gurney go on from a touch longer than you would like it to.        

There is not a weak link in the entire cast. I think this might be Ralph Fiennes’ best work as he explores someone in a position of absolute power who is going through a profound crisis of faith. There is a scene he shares with Lucian Msamati where you can feel every different part of his psyche fighting for control. Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow never miss in their films, and here is no exception. They are battling for control of the Catholic Church, and you feel it in their performances. I also liked Isabella Rossellini’s quiet performance, which still spoke volumes.

At the heart of this film is the intersection of religion, politics, ambition, and ceremony. Each creates a different web of layers that ensnares those who are not careful. There is a clear fight over the direction of the Church, but that does not mean people are not above a little personal sabotage to get the big white hat. I think it perfectly captures the many different pressures pulling modern Christianity and Catholicism specifically. The intersection of the tradition of the Pope in Italy based on where the majority of their followers now live, the pull of Liberalism and the allure of Conservatism, and then the crass moderatism trying to ride the line in the middle. If there is one flaw in the film, it gets a bit too preachy where it doesn’t need it, which undercuts the ending slightly.


In the end, do we recommend Conclave? Absolutely. This was such a fascinating blast of a film where every moment had me on the edge of the chair. I didn’t know who was going to be Pope till right towards the end, which is a sign of a good political intrigue film. Have you watched Conclave? Let us know what you thought in the comments below. If you liked Conclave, we would recommend to you The Eight Mountains.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

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Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Conclave
Directed by – Edward Berger
Screenplay by – Peter Straughan
Based on – Conclave by Robert Harris
Music by – Volker Bertelmann
Cinematography by – Stéphane Fontaine
Edited by – Nick Emerson
Production/Distribution Companies – FilmNation Entertainment, House Productions, Indian Paintbrush & Focus Features
Starring – Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Brían F. O’Byrne, Carlos Diehz, Merab Ninidze, Thomas Loibl, Sergio Castellitto, Isabella Rossellini, Bruno Novelli, Jacek Koman, Loris Loddi, Roberto Citran & Balkissa Maiga
Rating – Australia: PG; Canada: PG; Germany: 6; New Zealand: M; United Kingdom: 12A; United States: PG