Conclave: A religious drama for the ages

22/12/2024

Austin Atkinson (he/him) commends the new Edward Berger release

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Image by Focus Features

By Austin Atkinson

“The Pope is dead. The throne is vacant.” These are the first words spoken in the initial trailer for Conclave and the only context that Edward Berger’s new feature needs. What happens when ‘holy’ men begin vying to be the new leader of the Catholic church? Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is about to find out after he is appointed as the leader of the conclave prior to the pope’s death.

Edward Berger proves once again that he is no stranger to making incredible dramas. Previously with his dark and deeply disturbing German war film All Quiet on the Western Front and now with this astounding, intense, political thriller in Conclave.

From the moment the film opens to the moment the title card drops, you can tell that Conclave is going to be intense. The score, whilst never overbearing, constantly alludes to something much more sinister. After being given a taste of the feast Berger is preparing, we are taken to the day before the conclave starts. Preparations are in full swing with beds being made, pasta cooked and tables set up in the Sistine Chapel. Through this, we get to see the scale of the conclave as well as the pressure that Cardinal Lawrence is already facing.

When the cardinals arrive the next day tensions are already shown to be rising between some of the main candidates (the film’s supporting characters)  as they are the most likely to become the next pope. Some of these candidates include Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow), Bellini (Stanley Tucci), Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) and Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto). Outside of this we don’t see much of the sisters constantly lurking in the background, but Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini) is a limited yet strong presence throughout the course of this story.

A combination of brilliant performances from each of the cardinals and sisters, with a tight script by Peter Straughan and Robert Harris, allows for each character to have their moment to shine. There is always a layer of sanity waiting to be broken for each character. They try to act nonchalant, but when the race to crown the new pope keeps going, you begin to see the cracks in the facade. A personal favourite being that of Cardinal Tedesco who, at rather inappropriate times, will take a hit of his vape and appear cool and collected. Yet, he is hiding something much darker, waiting to weaponise it at the first opportunity he gets.

Add in some brilliant cinematography from Stéphane Fontaine, and you have one of the best acted, stunningly shot films of the year. The way Berger works with Fontaine is incredible. You get a good sense of intimacy/privacy in some conversations, while feeling like someone could be listening from around the corner in others. The cinematography in Conclave is armed with the ability to make the big moments feel even grander in scale. Working well with the editing to create tension that will have you holding your breath every step of the way.

Conclave is not just a great film. It is one of the finest pieces of fiction 2024 has to offer. Led by a brilliant cast, with a subtle yet incredibly effective script. Berger has a potential best picture winner on his hands. If you want something that keeps you on the edge of your seat and maybe even challenges your perception of faith, then this is a must watch.