Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front (2022); Jack (2014)) and starring Ralph Fiennes (The Constant Gardener (2005); Schindler's List (1993); The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014); Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2011)), Stanley Tucci (Spotlight (2015); The Lovely Bones (2009); Julie & Julia (2009); The King's Man (2021)), John Lithgow (Love is Strange (2014); The World According to Garp (1982); Cliffhanger (1983); Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)), Lucian Msamati (See How They Run (2022); The International (2009); The Good Liar (2019)), Jacek Koman (Moulin Rouge! (2001); Children of Men (2006)) and Sergio Castellitto (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008); Dante (2022); The Bad Poet (2020)).
Thriller; 120 mins; 6+
Adapted from the book by Thomas Harris, the Vatican City in Italy is the setting for this tense and atmospheric thriller.
The head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, passes away unexpectedly and his successor needs to be appointed, so Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with organising the conclave to elect the next Pope.
Conclaves involve the College of Cardinals being sequestered, being locked away in secret, with the burning of ballot papers resulting in either grey smoke (no clear result in this ballot) or white smoke (a new Pope has been elected) being seen by the outside.
Early posturing and campaigning sees Cardinal Wozniak (Jacek Koman) and Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) being touted by various quarters within the conclave to become the successor, while Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) is persuaded to let his name enter the fray.
Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) enters the scene, having apparently been appointed by the late Pope in secret, but he is - begrudgingly by some - admitted to the conclave. This is just one of a number of secrets unearthed by Cardinal Lawrence. At the same time, Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) is facing accusations of indiscretions in his early life...
The setting being established, political jostling is the order of the day, before a suspected conspiracy is aired that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.
Watching this conjured up images and memories of the 2009 film Angels & Demons, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor based on the book of the same name by Dan Brown, which is also set within the Vatican.
But Conclave delves deeper into both religious beliefs and political aspirations and manoeuvring, while the film depicts many historical traditions accurately, such as the removal and destruction of the dead Pope's ring, the use of the Sistine Chapel, the surrendering of mobile phones and the closing off of the papal apartment with ribbons and seals. On the other hand, part of the storyline addresses issues that are very sensitive to the Catholic Church.
Currently being screened at Kinepolis Luxembourg.
