Based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris (Fatherland, Enigma), Conclave is set in Rome and begins immediately after the pope has passed away. We follow Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) as he is charged with leading the sacred event to select a new pope. Cardinals from around the globe soon arrive to participate in the process, including Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow), Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) and Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz) among many others. The group are swiftly sequestered from the outside World and the stage is set for an innovative variation on a classic locked room mystery, in which the audience are left to wonder who will be elected to serve as the new pope.
Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) and adapted for the screen by Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Conclave excels in creating and sustaining tension. The script itself is a masterstroke of sharp, economical storytelling which gives the audience exactly what’s required at any one time and not one thing more. This is also carried through by Berger’s assured direction. From the very beginning, we’re introduced to Cardinal Lawrence as a man under significant strain; his hurried breathing, clenched fist and furrowed brow are all on display before we’ve even seen his face. The suspense is brilliantly created not just by the masterfully orchestrated construction of shots, but also by the powerful yet restrained score from Academy Award-winning composer Volker Bertelmann (All Quiet on the Western Front), who knows exactly when to ramp up the pressure by injecting ominous strings, and when to allow deliberate silence to amplify the impact of mysterious footsteps or overheard voices.
With the script, direction and score, the stage is set for a dramatic thriller of the highest quality, but what about the players? I’m thrilled to report that the cast of Conclave are more than up to the task of delivering the twists and turns which are so thoughtfully crafted to intrigue and delight us. From Tucci and Lithgow to Msamati and Diehz, the ensemble cast excel at creating authentic feeling characters who hover around the seat of power; so much so that the audience never feels truly comfortable defining their motivations or characters as a result. At the centre of it all is Fiennes, who brings us into this world and holds us captive to the very end. Cardinal Lawrence is exactly the type of character who deserves to be played by an actor of Fiennes’ calibre. His infinitely appealing moral fibre and kind presence draw us in, but his complex background and struggles with frequent uncertainty keep us enthralled.
Sex, violence and rock n’ roll are powerful and enticing for audiences, but every now and again a timeless future classic comes along which requires none of the above. This expertly crafted web of conflicting characters and intrigue will enrapture audiences, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Conclave is on general release at the Barbican and across the UK from Fri 29 November. We’re delighted to have director Edward Berger joining Barbican New Release Curator Sonia Zadurian in conversation after a screening of the film on the opening night of release.
