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Join Telegram ChannelStanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini also star in this film by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front).
During his film career, Ralph Fiennes has had some career changes: from Nazi camp leader to Schindler's Listto a spy in King's Man: First Missionpassing through an evil wizard in the Harry Potter saga and a chef in The Menu… But there is one profession that he had never practiced before: that of faith. In Conclavethe next film byEdward Berger, whose first trailer has just been released, the actor dons the cassock for the first time and plays Cardinal Lawrence – caught up in the plots and conspiracies of his peers and trying to restore harmony, while the Pope has just died and an election is approaching…
Far from Two Popes or the series The Young Pope, Conclave promises to be a thriller. Within the Vatican, cardinals jostle and plot to gain access to the Holy See and Lawrence must ensure the smooth running of the conclave – this election behind closed doors to name the next head of the Church – and supervise the succession. Around him gravitate the conservative cleric Tedesco played by Sergio Castellito, the corrupt Tremblay played by John Lithgow (Footloose), the moderate Bellini embodied by Stanley Tucci (The devil wears Prada) and a new kid played by Carlos Diehz and who will soon stand out from the crowd.
But that's not all. Rumors are flying about what caused the mysterious and sudden death of the Pope. It quickly becomes clear that the Pope was holding a heavy secret. Discovered by Cardinal Lawrence, it could shake the entire institution…
Recently interviewed by Vanity Fairthe director said about Ralph Fiennes:
“Ralph was very diligent in terms of learning Italian and Latin – he wanted to be extremely precise. He took great pride in that.”
The Oscar-nominated actor also opened up about his collaboration with Edward Berger:
“Edward is very enthusiastic. He listens and is a true collaborator. His preparation is great – he immediately has the respect of everyone, the actors, the crews – not only because he listens, he is human and inclusive, but also because he knows what film he wants to make.”
As In the west, nothing is new, Conclave is based on a novel – in this case, written by Robert Harris. In 2022, the director surprised everyone with this award-winning and Oscar-winning phenomenon. Edward Berger has gone from the battlefields of World War I to the corridors of the Vatican, which doesn't seem so far away: “This is a conclave, not a war,” Cardinal Lawrence says in the trailer. To which Stanley Tucci's character responds: “This is a war. And you have to choose your side.”
For Vanity FairEdward Berger fully assumes this choice:
“I wanted to do something that would challenge me in a number of ways, and I'm usually drawn to films that are the complete opposite of what I've done before. I wanted to escape the vastness and chaos of the battlefield and go towards something more intense.”
In the background of this patriarchal world, created and controlled by men, is Sister Agnes, played by the immense Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet), discreet support of Cardinal Lawrence and watchful eye of the smooth running of this event. She is the eyes and ears of the film, and the actress warns us in an Instagram post that it could make noise:
“In the tradition of the Church I am almost invisible, silent, at the service of men but to quote one of my lines”God gave us eyes and ears“so when Sister Agnes speaks WOW!”
The director explains that the actress gives this character, although minor, a place just as important as that given to the cardinals:
“Most often she sits in the background, and yet you can’t help but see her – because she’s Isabella.”
Conclave will be released in theaters in France on December 4.
What is the new version of All Quiet on the Western Front worth? [critique]