Synopsis

Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake – secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.

Critics Views

A gradually swelling, deeply intellectual, and unexpectedly fun political thriller, Berger’s twisty film takes the audience behind the notoriously secretive closed doors of the Catholic Church for one of its most private processes: the election of a new pontiff  The A V Club

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.
Entertainment Weekly

Conclave has now been brilliantly translated to the big screen. It’s high entertainment, all components expertly marshalled
New Statesman

Golden Globes Nominated
Best Motion Picture, Drama

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Ralph Fiennes

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
Isabella Rossellini

Best Director, Motion Picture
Edward Berger

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture
Peter Straughan

Best Original Score, Motion Picture
Volker Bertelmann

Film Rating

IMDb
 Critics: 79%  Audience 76%

Rotten Tomatoes
Critics positive review 93%   Audience Liked It 85%

 Stockbridge Audience Score: 97%

Audience Comments

Brilliant
Absolutely outstanding film
Much better than I thought it was going to be, enjoyed it
Absolutely brilliant!
Spiritual and ego played out
Very atmospheric and an unusual subject for a film. Excellent acting throughout.
Utterly absorbing. Fantastic cinematography. Best film I’ve seen for a long time.
Full of twists and turns right to the end.
Beautifully filmed, slow build up to the twist at the end. Superb acting and screenplay.
Absorbing
Much anticipated; lived up to expectations. Acting superb. Good choice!
An outstanding film that kept true to the book
Excellent performances by Fiennes and Tucci as well as others. Great evocation of the formality of this arcane process, Robert Harris’s best book in my view. Awards well deserved
Compelling drama from an unlikely subject , Fiennes underplays his role brilliantly. Great direction and superb photography
Great performances from Fiennes and Tucci
Riveting
Engrossing and well acted
An excellent score for an excellent cinematic experience. Glorious filming and performances contribute to this. Inevitably the book has more information texture and nuance but I’m happy to let them be different but both excellent.
Brilliant acting, esp. by Fiennes. And some memorable lines
Gently gripping, great acting for the most part, and unexpected twist at the end
Superb in every way – plot (based on a great book), casting, costumes, acting, cinematography. Should have won more awards.
The power of the film was phenomenal all the way through & the acting brilliant.
Fascinating, gripping, well acted and superb sound and production
Thought provoking.
Fascinating if insight into inner workings of conclave, and Vatican buildings. Stylish filming with witty juxtaposition of ancient ritual with contemporary features. Certainly didn’t see the final twist coming!
Allies, friends, enemies, agreements kept or broken, plotting, subtle threats in an amazing historical setting. (Just like the parish council elections!)
The novel itself is my preferred choice and should not be neglected!
Good to see something of this quality
Slightly slow but so was the book. Very much liked the twist at the end
Cinematically excellent – felt the story had its weak points
Gripping, with a couple of unexpected surprises!