The Papal Mystery Conclave Is a Taut Conspiracy Thriller
Director Edward Berger—with help from Michelangelo and a marvelous cast—delivers a polished, gripping mystery.
As the mysteries of the conclave mount, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), the dean of the College of Cardinals, becomes a reluctant private eye.
Source: Focus FeaturesChoosing a new pope is a solemn affair shrouded in mystery, but behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, a papal conclave is just another contest. Gregory X ascended to the throne in 1271 after a bitter three-year struggle. The election of Pius II in 1458 followed an actual brawl.
Director Edward Berger proved in 2022’s All Quiet on the Western Front that he’s a master of war movies. And he’s ridden into battle once again in his new film, the meticulously crafted thriller Conclave. Even though it lacks actual carnage, Conclave may be the more violent film.