Conclave
dir. Edward Berger · 2024
Feature
Institutional Corruption
Mood
Tense / Dark
Look
dimly lit, claustrophobic interiors, contrasting shadows and light
Structure
linear progression with flashbacks revealing secrets
Plot
Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church's most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope's wake--secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.
Why watch
Cardinal Lawrence finds himself in the Vatican, surrounded by the most powerful figures of the Catholic Church, as they grapple with the death of the Pope. As secrets begin to unravel, the atmosphere thickens with tension, revealing the fragility of faith and the weight of hidden truths.
Cultural context
contemporary religious discoursethe role of the Catholic Church in modern societypower dynamics within religious institutions