Conclave -Review: A Riveting Intersection of the Divine and the Desperate

Conclave (2024)

A Riveting Intersection of the Divine and the Desperate

★★★★☆

An intriguing, unnerving ride that stands as one of the year’s most polished dramas.

Directed by Edward Berger, Conclave is a riveting drama that strips away the gold-leafed sanctity of the Vatican to reveal a human-fueled political machine. Centered on the election of a new Pope following the death of a beloved progressive leader, the film explores the greed, ambition, and dark secrets that bubble beneath the surface of a supposedly God-inspired process. It’s a political thriller dressed in liturgical robes, trading ballot boxes for smoke signals.

"The election of the Pope is theoretically supposed to be inspired by God. But the human fueled political process is in full display, with greed, ambition, bribery, dark secrets and jealousy all coming into play."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Edward Berger
• Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow
• Supporting: Isabella Rossellini, Sergio Castellitto
• Music: Volker Bertelmann

The Vision

Edward Berger masterfully accentuates the haunting traditions and ceremonial minutiae of the election. Several cinematic images and visuals stay with you long after the credits roll, supported by a propulsive film score that keeps the audience unnerved. While it stops just short of epic greatness—perhaps lacking the profound emotional heart needed for a truly shattering finale—it remains a masterclass in pacing and atmospheric suspense.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Literary Roots: The film is based on the 2016 best-selling novel by Robert Harris, known for his meticulously researched historical and political thrillers.
• Reunion: This film reunites director Edward Berger with composer Volker Bertelmann, following their Academy Award-winning collaboration on All Quiet on the Western Front.
• Costume Detail: The production team worked extensively to recreate the specific shades of "cardinal red," which differs from the "papal white" and other liturgical garments to ensure absolute period and ritual accuracy.

✅ Pros

• A powerhouse lead performance by Ralph Fiennes.
• Taut, suspenseful pacing and a haunting score.
• Incredible attention to the minutiae of Vatican tradition.

❌ Cons

• Slightly lacks the emotional "heart" to achieve epic status.
• The ending may not feel as profound as the build-up suggests.

The Full Analysis

Conclave is a riveting drama featuring excellent performances from an elite ensemble cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, and John Lithgow. The narrative revolves around the high-stakes election of a new Pope following the death of a beloved, progressive predecessor. While the film contains plenty of political intrigue similar to what we have seen in traditional election dramas, featuring the usual frontrunners, wild cards, and underdogs, it remains a distinct and captivating experience.

What makes Conclave so deeply interesting are the religious aspects of the selection process. Theoretically, the election of a Pope is supposed to be inspired by divine intervention, but the human-fueled political machinery is on full display here. Greed, ambition, bribery, dark secrets, and jealousy all come into play, creating a stark contrast between the sacred and the profane. This tension is further accentuated by the haunting traditions and the detailed ceremonial minutiae inherent to the Vatican.

The film features several haunting cinematic images and visuals, supported by a film score that expertly paces the suspense and keeps the audience unnerved and on their feet. In the end, these elements add up to an impressive film, though it perhaps falls a little short of epic greatness. The story lacks the moving emotional heart or the profound, narrative-shifting surprises required to truly drive the ending home with maximum impact.

Despite those minor shortcomings, Conclave is an intriguing ride that is well worthy of being called one of the year’s best films. It is a powerfully invigorating look at the intersection of faith and power, providing a sharp, satirical edge to the ancient institutions of the church. For fans of intellectual thrillers and masterclass acting, this is a must-see production that captures the weight of history in every frame.

🏆 Final Verdict

A beautifully acted, intellectually stimulating thriller. Conclave proves that the quest for power is just as fierce in the Sistine Chapel as it is in any hall of government.

View original review on Letterboxd

Conclave: Ritual vs. Reality

While Conclave meticulously recreates the visual splendor and mechanical rituals of a Papal election, the film introduces several narrative deviations to heighten the dramatic tension. Here is how the cinematic portrayal compares to real Vatican protocol.

The "In Pectore" Cardinal

In the Movie: Cardinal Benitez is admitted to the Conclave as a secret appointee. The Reality: This is the film's largest inaccuracy. A cardinal appointed "in pectore" (in the heart) has no legal rights, including the right to vote, unless their identity is publicly named by the Pope before his death.

The Smoke Schedule

In the Movie: Ballots are burned and smoke rises after every individual round of voting. The Reality: To maintain the schedule, ballots are typically burned only at the end of a full session (which consists of two votes), meaning smoke only appears twice a day to the public.

The Sequestration

In the Movie: The isolation is shown as a high-tension psychological drama. The Reality: This is highly accurate. The term Conclave literally means "with a key," and cardinals are strictly barred from all outside communication, including newspapers, radio, and mobile devices.

The Ballot Mechanics

In the Movie: Detailed shots show the threading of ballots with a needle. The Reality: This is 100% accurate. Ballots are threaded through the word "Eligo" (I elect) to prevent tampering and to ensure an accurate final count before being burned.

The Seal of Confession

A pivotal plot point involves the Dean of the College of Cardinals investigating the candidates. In real life, any cardinal who reveals the contents of a confession or violates the "Papal Secret" regarding the election proceedings faces immediate and automatic excommunication, a consequence far more severe than the film portrays.