Conclave

When the Pope unexpectedly dies, Cardinals from all over the world rush to the Vatican, where they immediately sequester themselves. Digital devices are stashed, doors are locked, and windows are shuttered as they prepare for the election of a new leader — one who will not only provide spiritual guidance for the world’s Catholics, but set the tone for the future.

Director Edward Berger returns to the Festival, after his TIFF ’22 selection, the Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front, with this high-stakes drama set within the stunning walls of the Vatican. Featuring scintillating performances from Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow, Conclave imagines a secret process that affects millions but is witnessed by few.

Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) oversees the proceedings, assuming that the contest will come down to a battle between the reactionary, openly racist Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) and the liberal progressive Cardinal Bellini (Tucci). And matters soon turn complicated as rumours circulate, secrets emerge, and acts of sabotage are undertaken. Adapted by Peter Straughan (The Goldfinch, TIFF ’19) from the Robert Harris novel, and lensed by cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine (Revoir Paris, TIFF ’23), the film captures the potent gravity of this whole competition with one arresting composition after another.

Conclave unfolds over a tension-riddled 72 hours, depicting a gripping confrontation between tradition, politics, and faith. Featuring brilliant supporting performances — most notably from Isabella Rossellini as the silent yet formidable Sister Agnes — it focuses on the all-too-human aspects of a hallowed procedure, one that speculates on the role of religion in a rapidly changing world.

JANE SCHOETTLE