A scene from ‘Conclave’

TIFF ’24 Review: ‘Conclave’ is shockingly tense

‘Conclave’ goes behind the curtain to observe the fictional election of the next Pope in a process surprisingly fraught with scandal.

His Holy Father, the Pope, dies overnight, setting in motion a series of events that will lead to the selection of the next Catholic leader – a process that will be overseen by Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), who’s recently struggled with his faith. Three weeks later, more than 100 cardinals from around the world gather at the Vatican for the election, including a man no one knew existed amongst their ranks. Private meetings reveal there are clear frontrunners and a divide regarding the Church’s future. On the conservative side is Cardinal Tedesco of Venice, who would revert to the old ways, undoing decades of tolerance and modernization. The liberal side is backing Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) of the Vatican, who is not keen on the position, but cannot allow Tedesco’s regression. Then there’s Cardinal Adeyami (Lucian Msamati) of Nigeria, who would be the first African Pope, and Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) of Montreal, who may be hiding something from his brothers.

It’s clear the traditions of this process are precious to its participants, who observe even the most inane and drawn-out practices. However, taking his duties seriously and determined to ensure the next pontiff is worthy of the position, Lawrence repeatedly breaks the rules to investigate rumours and accusations. As one character exclaims, it feels like they are taking part in an American presidential election, laden with scandals and mudslinging as the race for one of the world’s most powerful positions grows tighter. The cast does an incredible job bringing this clandestine process to life in a way that is genuine and accessible. They each have distinct personalities and some very emotional scenes, whether a sudden expression of anger or a total surrender to grief. As the world only knows the process via the black or white smoke that billows from the Sistine Chapel, this is an eye-opening though fictional peek into an election that turns out to be much like any other.

Conclave had its international premiere in the Special Presentations programme at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Read other reviews from the festival.

Director: Edward Berger
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow

Similar Posts

  • Review: ‘The Intruders’ left something behind (Includes first-hand account)

    Uprooting one’s life to move to a new home, or especially a new town, can be distressing. The unfamiliar can easily become frightening and/or appear threatening. Anxieties are amplified and everything appears alien or suspect. Compound that with existing mental health issues and you get the terror experienced by the young woman at the centre of The Intruders.

  • Review: ‘The Hate U Give’ is a vital picture in the cultural zeitgeist (Includes first-hand account)

    Stories about inner city life are often about gangs or rising above one’s class to be better; but it’s not often a narrative finds a way to combine these aspects and portray a more realistic depiction of people from these neighbourhoods where those things are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Everyone is a product of their environment, but that doesn’t mean they have to accept, abide by or sink down to its lowest expectations. The Hate U Give creates the acronym “THUG” and is about “thug life,” but not the derogatory definition that’s pervaded and is most often associated with these tales.

  • Review: ‘Promising Young Woman’ passes judgement where justice fails (Includes first-hand account)

    To this day, a segment of society finds women with power problematic. More notably, they find women who take power uncouth and even frightening. A woman who seeks to level the playing field or — heaven forbid — gain the upper-hand, is a threat to the status quo and thus a threat to the patriarchy. Therefore, when a movie portrays this change in dynamics, but doesn’t adhere to the way these situations have typically been portrayed, it’s deemed to be lacking or false. If a woman is going to assume a position of power, it has to be in a manner that is expected and, consequently, acceptable because it was designed by men. Promising Young Woman throws all of that out the window.