Conclave

CONCLAVE (2024) Cert 12
Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini. Directed by Edward Berger. 2hrs.

Power is power, and the church is as prone to political intrigue, ruthless back-stabbing and games-playing as any parliament. More so perhaps, because at its highest level this is global power which hides behind a mask of innocent piety. When the pope dies in what may or may not be suspicious circumstances, Ralph Fiennes is the senior cardinal and Vatican administrator tasked with overseeing a conclave of his peers from all over the globe to elect their new leader. Yet none of the leading contenders is quite what he seems and all are intent on sabotaging their rivals' chances by any means fair or foul. At the same time, a terrorist attack beyond the walls of the Vatican adds further urgency to the task. The clock is ticking... but the cardinals' final selection of a new pope threatens to change everything that we have ever understood about the Catholic faith. 

Despite its holy setting, Conclave is as gripping as any thriller, given additional force by superb performances from a starry cast, not least Ralph Fiennes in a career-highlight role, and muscular direction by Edward Berger, whose All Quiet On The Western Front was the star of last year's awards season. Conclave looks set to repeat that feat, with multiple nominations at both the BAFTAs and Oscars. This is quality filmmaking at every level, adapted by Peter Straughan (who brought Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall to our television screens) from the novel by Robert Harris, author of Fatherland, Enigma, The Ghost and Pompeii. A special mention goes to the film's stunning sound design, in which every footstep and every breath ratchets up the tension to fever pitch. Your heart will be racing.

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Please note that The Screening Room is located in the historic vaults of Parade House and is accessed only via a staircase.