From director Edward Berger (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT), CONCLAVE follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — the selection of a new pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes in an awards-destined powerhouse performance) is tasked with running this covert process after a beloved pope dies unexpectedly. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church.
Check your expectations at the door. It might sound like fodder for the Masterpiece Theater crowd, but this wildly watchable and tautly-directed dynamo of a film packs a wicked Succession-style punch. Featuring a thunderous score and a tremendous ensemble cast (Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati), this twisty, edge-of-your-seat tale of religious intrigue is an election (and awards) season essential.
“If there is any certainty in 2024, at least in the cinematic sense, CONCLAVE is among the very best films of the year. It’s a knockout.” —Tomris Laffly, The A.V. Club “CONCLAVE whips itself up into high melodrama and then cuts through all the sturm und drang with sudden darts of humor. It’s a carefully calibrated thing, touching fingers with prestige greatness while keeping its feet firmly planted in the realm of rollicking entertainment.” —Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair “Berger’s latest is a blast of brilliance, with a supremely compelling story driven by some astonishing performances…. This is a nourishing film, with deep ideas nestled within a pulply, thriller structure. It’s a wonderful blend that’s both highly entertaining and profoundly intelligent.” —Jason Gorber, Collider “CONCLAVE is packed with unexpected twists and its final reveal is one viewers will never see coming, an increasingly rare occurrence in modern movie-making and the mark of an impeccably crafted thriller.” —Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly
