Pacing and tone
The film is characterized by a measured pace and an atmosphere of restrained intrigue, combining high-stakes drama with elements of dark comedy and social criticism.
Film record
Conclave
Conclave (2024), directed by Edward Berger, is a political thriller and psychological suspense film adapted from Robert Harris’s novel of the same name. Starring Ralph Fiennes, the film focuses on the secret process of electing a new Pope after the pontiff’s death, exploring tensions within the Catholic Church.
- Production countries
- United States · United Kingdom
- Languages
- English
- Genres
- drama film · thriller film · mystery film
The starting point
Spoiler-free synopsis
After the unexpected death of the Pope, Cardinal Lawrence is appointed to lead the conclave, the ancient and secret ritual charged with choosing the Church’s new leader. As he oversees the participating cardinals, Lawrence faces the complexity of the process and the intrigues that emerge around the papal succession.
Before you press play
What to know before watching
Understanding the reception
What people think
A synthesis of the referenced review and comment excerpts. It represents the consulted sources, not a consensus of all critics or viewers.
What viewers discuss
Divided opinions
Opening pace
Audiences differ in their perception of the film’s pace. While some viewers find the opening slow and feel that the first act drags, others consider the storytelling masterful and see the slower pace as part of building the atmosphere, not a flaw.
Could this be for you?
Target audience
Recommended for viewers interested in political thrillers, dramas of intrigue, and auteur cinema focused on screenwriting and performances. It is not a fast-paced action film, but rather a psychological suspense film and character study.
Sources for this guide
Prepared with AI assistance and automated evidence and spoiler checks. This is not a first-hand viewing review or a numerical rating. Internal quotations are not reproduced; references provide the original context.
- wikipedia.orgDocumentary excerpt
- wikipedia.orgSearch excerpt
- letterboxd.comSearch excerpt
- filmaffinity.comSearch excerpt
- facebook.com · What viewers discussSearch excerpt
- substack.comSearch excerpt
- jordanandeddie.comSearch excerpt
- reddit.com · What viewers discussSearch excerpt
Credits
Art department
Cynthia Sleiter — Production design
Cinematography
Stéphane Fontaine — Cinematography
Costume
Lisy Christl — Costume design
Direction
Edward Berger — Directing
Editing
Nick Emerson — Editing
Music
Hauschka — Music composition
Cast
Ralph Fiennes — Acting (Cardinal Lawrence)
John Lithgow — Acting (Cardinal Tremblay)
Stanley Tucci — Acting (Cardinal Bellini)
Isabella Rossellini — Acting (Sœur Agnès)
Lucian Msamati — Acting (Cardinal Adeyemi)
Brían F. O'Byrne — Acting (O'Malley)
Sergio Castellitto — Acting (Cardinal Tedesco)
Carlos Diehz — Acting (Cardinal Benitez)
Rony Kramer — Acting (Cardinal Mendoza)
Joseph Mydell — Acting (Nakitanda)
Merab Ninidze — Acting (Sabbadin)
Production
Tessa Ross — Production
Robert Harris — Production
Juliette Howell — Production
Michael A. Jackman — Production
Writing
Peter Straughan — Screenwriting
Documented participation
Film companies and organizations
Each relationship distinguishes role, territory, medium and period.
Distribution
VerifiedFórum Hungary
Distribution
VerifiedSociété nouvelle de distribution
Distribution
VerifiedLeonine Distribution
Production
VerifiedHouse Productions
Production
VerifiedFilmNation Entertainment
Production
VerifiedIndian Paintbrush
Versions and cuts
No versions have been documented yet.
Releases by territory
United Kingdom · Original release
Related reading
Conclave: an access map for rereading who knows what, when and from where
Moderate spoiler warning: this guide does not reveal the ending, but it does discuss situations and staging decisions from the middle section. Its proposal is simple: return to Conclave not to reconstruct a chain of secrets, but to follow the permissions, doors and listening points that regulate what the characters and the audience know.
Film connections
Connected films
Non-personalised suggestions built from visible relationships, not popularity.
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The Wild Robot
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