This thought-provoking papal drama delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense with a venerable Ralph Fiennes. Set within the Vatican’s most secretive ritual, the film offers a gripping look at power, faith, and ambition. With its sharp direction and stellar cast, Conclave promises a cinematic experience that’s both intelligent and intense.
Genre: thriller, drama
Language: English, subtitles: Dutch
Length: 2h
Last spring, on April 26, the world watched as Pope Francis was laid to rest—a moment that marked the end of an era and the beginning of a uniquely secretive ritual: the conclave. That one iconic puff of white smoke signals a new spiritual leader for over a billion people. But what really happens behind the locked doors of the Vatican?
Conclave pulls back the velvet curtain on one of the world’s most mysterious power shifts. When the pope dies, the cardinals gather to vote, but not everyone’s hands are clean. Cardinal Lawrence struggles to keep the process on track as sky-high ambitions spiral into scandal, all while facing his own crises of faith, he uncovers that the late pope may have taken more than a few secrets to his grave.
Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) and featuring a top-notch cast, including Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, Conclave carries off papal pulp with immaculate execution. It is a godsend for audiences who crave intelligent entertainment.
Awards
Conclave received widespread critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and earning a nomination for Best Picture. At the BAFTAs, it took home top honors including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also won Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes, with major nominations for its direction and standout performances by Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini.
Reviews
“Conclave is smart, provocative, sometimes funny, and determined to make us rethink our initial impressions. It challenges us to challenge ourselves and is wildly entertaining, one of the year’s standout films.” Roger Ebert
“It feels like a timeless classic. It takes us into the forbidden spaces we can’t otherwise know, not just cloistered rooms but deep into the human soul.” Film Threat
“Ralph Fiennes delivers a master class in acting in this juicy, jolting mystery thriller in which director Edward Berger uses the fictional election of a new pope in Rome to mirror America’s own dirty politics. What fun! And the drama of it will pin you to your seat.” ABC News
Ticket information
This film will be shown at Filmhuis De Zwarte Doos.
- Tickets must be purchased online in advance and can be bought by clicking the black “Order” button on this page.
- Cash or card payments are not accepted at the ticket counter.
For more information about tickets, refund policies, and other details, click here.
Please be on time
The screening of the film begins promptly at 19:30 (with no pre-film advertisements), and the cinema hall will open at 19:10. We kindly request that you arrive at the ticket counter at least 10 minutes before the start of the film to ensure a smooth and timely experience for all.
The Studium Generale film program is created in collaboration with the Student Film Committee and Natlab.