Conclave
Overview
Conclave is a 2024 political thriller film directed by Edward Berger, based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris. The film stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who is tasked with organizing the conclave to elect a new Pope. The film is set in Vatican City, following the death of the Pope. The cardinals from around the world gather in the Sistine Chapel, sealed off from the outside world, to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church. The film is a tense, slow-burn thriller, filled with political maneuvering, secret alliances, and shocking revelations. Lawrence is a liberal, thoughtful man who is haunted by a crisis of faith. He is opposed by Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), a conservative, traditionalist Italian; Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow), a Canadian who is ambitious and corrupt; and Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), a Nigerian who is hiding a dark secret. The film's twist is that the new Pope is a woman. A cardinal from Afghanistan, Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz), is revealed to have been ordained in secret, and he is actually intersex. He is elected Pope, and he takes the name John Paul III. Conclave was a critical success, earning over $30 million on a $20 million budget. The film was praised for its performances, its direction, and its suspenseful plotting. Ralph Fiennes was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor.
