Conclave

Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci lead an otherwise brilliant cast in Robert Harris’ adaptation of the novel Conclave. A film that reads like a rock-solid thriller with a few surprising twists, in which a group of cardinals gather in the Vatican to elect a new pope.

When the Pope unexpectedly dies, cardinals from around the world rush to the Vatican, where they immediately lock themselves in. Digital devices are locked, doors are locked, and windows are boarded up as they prepare to elect a new leader—someone who will not only provide spiritual guidance to the world’s Catholics, but also set the tone for the future. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) must keep things running smoothly, despite his own crisis of faith. When lofty ambitions spiral into scandal, he discovers that the late Pope was far from saintly.

Conclave is directed by Edward Berger, who won an Oscar in 2023 for All Quiet on the Western Front. Set over a 72-hour period, the film depicts the conclave, a secret process that affects millions but is witnessed by few. Isabella Rossellini is a formidable supporting role as the silent Sister Agnes.