Conclave film review - thought provoking, intriguing and twist-driven

The ceremonial choosing of a new pope might seem like a sombre affair, but this juicy thriller is quite the papal page-turner. Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence, who’s tasked with running the conclave in Rome that decides on a new pope.

The leader of the Catholic Church has died suddenly, and potential candidates are furtively campaigning to take his place. The most powerful leaders in the church gather in the Vatican halls to vote on the process.

Front runners include Cardinals Bellini (Stanley Tucci) of the Vatican, Trembley of Montreal (John Lithgow), Tedesco of Venice (Sergio Castellitto) and Adeyemi of Nigeria (Lucian Msamati).

A gripping political thriller is set in motion: this is a world of whispers in corridors, secrets and potential scandals. As he debates whether to investigate each rumour, Cardinal Lawrence starts to question everything.

Based on the novel by Robert Harris (Enigma) and scripted by Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), it’s directed by Edward Berger, who helmed All Quiet on the Western Front in 2022.

Thought-provoking, intriguing and twist-driven, Conclave is blessed with a brilliant cast and a complex, sympathetic lead: Fiennes is terrific as the calm, relatively liberal protagonist; Tucci, Lithgow and Msamati have fun peeling back the layers of their characters. There’s humour too.

The movie has more in common with TV’s The West Wing than it does with many a religious film. And it’s not all about men, either: watch out for a witty turn from Isabella Rossellini as an inscrutable nun.