Conclave (2024) || A Holy Power Struggle That Feels Anything But Divine

 I have to be honest, religious films usually don’t grab me. The few I’ve seen, if I did see at all, either felt too preachy, too distant, or just plain dull. But this one? It surprised me. This is the first one that had me hooked and unblinking from the very beginning. I give it to the director, Edward Berger, for not making it a sermon dressed up as cinema. It is a political thriller in holy robes and I just couldn’t look away.  One of the first things that caught my eye was the cardinals smoking. It made me pause for a second and I thought, Wait, are cardinals even allowed to smoke? Maybe allowed isn’t the right word. Are cardinals ‘supposed’ to be seen smoking? Isn’t smoking considered a sin amongst these high priests? Watching these men of faith puffing away while deciding the next Pope was so jarring, yet so human, that it pulled me deeper into the story.  I’m not Catholic, but I’ve always found their rituals fascinating. The incense, the chanting, the weight of tradition. This film doesn’t shy away from showing all of that, and honestly? It’s mesmerizing. The Vatican setting is magnificent: grand halls drenched in candlelight, I had the feeling of being inside walls that have held centuries of secrets and for a second I felt unworthy. The atmosphere is both sacred and suffocating, like the walls themselves are listening.  And then there are the costumes, scarlet robes, gold-trimmed vestments, each detail making the cardinals look less like men and more like players in some ancient ritual. It’s beautiful but also intimidating, like power made visible in fabric.  Performance-wise, Ralph Fiennes carries the film with quiet brilliance. His Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, isn’t loud or flashy, he’s conflicted, cautious and merely human in a world that demands perfection. The supporting cast (Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini) add layers of intrigue, making it feel less like a religious ceremony and more like a chess match where every piece has its own agenda. ^{had to look up the real names of the supporting casts}  What makes *Conclave* standout to me is the tension that simmers beneath its silence. Those whispered confessions, subtle glance, felt loaded. This isn’t about saints and sinners, but about ambition, guilt, faith and survival, all locked in the same room.  Would I recommend it? With a hand to my chest, I absolutely do. Even if you’re not into religious films (like me), this one grabs you with its atmosphere and drama. It’s slow, sure, but it’s the kind of slow burn that makes you lean forward, not tune out.  I am yet to find out if this film won an Oscars because it is absolutely deserving of it in my honest opinion. Rating? A 9/10 from me.