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Conclave picked up the Best Adapted screenplay at the 97th Academy Awards, following its Best Screenplay win at the Golden Globes. The film imagines what might happen behind closed doors of the famously secretive process of selecting a new pope, and, if Conclave is to be believed, it is messy.
The script, penned by Peter Straughan, is packed to the gills with plenty of fast-talking arguments, whispered deliberations, and politically-motivated pontifications. Straughan, who also wrote Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, based the script on the novel of the same name by Robert Harris. In his acceptance speech, Straughan thanked the Conclave novelist for his “beautiful book,” saying, “We’re all standing on your shoulders.”
The film, directed by Edward Berger, stars cinematic heavyweights Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, and John Lithgow. Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence, who organizes the conclave of cardinals responsible for selecting the new pope. Multiple factions quickly emerge, with allies and rivals attempting to tear each other down in secret.
Aside from some name changes, the film is relatively faithful to the book, including the surprising twist about the cardinal who ultimately prevails as the new pope. In an interview with Time following the film’s release, Harris stated, “I approached this not as a Catholic and not as an expert in the Church. So my preparation began by reading the gospels, which are revolutionary. And the contrast between that and this great edifice of ritual and pomp and power and wealth of the Church is striking.” The film’s twist ending, among other factors, led to a backlash among some Catholics and conservatives.
Harris has written a number of works of historical fiction, including Munich, Pompeii, and his debut Fatherland, a work of alternate history. Conclave was originally published in 2016 to positive reviews and was republished in August 2024 with a new cover ahead of the film’s October release. Conclave was distributed by Focus Features, which is owned by Universal, which means it’s streaming on NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock.
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