Overview Conclave is a 2024 political-thriller film directed by Edward Berger and written by Peter Straughan, adapted from Robert Harris’s 2016 novel Conclave. The film dramatizes the secretive process of electing a pope: the College of Cardinals sequesters itself, debates, and votes while previously hidden scandals and political maneuvering emerge. Running about 120 minutes, Conclave combines tense procedural beats with character-driven moral dilemmas and period-spanning institutional critique.

Critical reception and awards The film received broadly positive reviews for acting, direction, script, and production design. It was praised for making the arcane world of a conclave accessible and dramatically compelling, turning a procedural premise into a character-driven moral puzzle. Major festival screenings included Telluride (world premiere) and other fall 2024 festival appearances; the film earned critical awards recognition and multiple nominations across industry awards in its release season.

Cultural and historical context Conclave taps into contemporary conversations about institutional reform, representation, and transparency—particularly relevant given global religious, political, and social shifts. By staging debates among cardinals from multiple continents, the film foregrounds how a global institution wrestles with modern pressures. The story’s focus on secrecy and revelation mirrors broader cultural interest in accountability across powerful institutions.

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