Conclave parents guide

Conclave Parent Guide

It's a miracle! A tense, tightly plotted PG-rated movie for adults.

Overall B+

Theaters: When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with organizing the conclave to select a new Pope, he uncovers a trail of secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.

Release date October 25, 2024

Violence B
Sexual Content B+
Profanity A
Substance Use B

Why is Conclave rated PG? The MPAA rated Conclave PG for thematic material and smoking.

Run Time: 120 minutes

Parent Movie Review

The Pope is dead. As grief settles over the Vatican, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) must do his duty, gather the cardinals from around the world, and organize the conclave that will select a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. But this is easier said than done.

The conclave combines solemn responsibility, age-old ritual, and dirty politics. The main contenders are Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), a belligerent Italian who’s determined to roll back decades of reform; Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), an affable Nigerian with conservative social views; Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow), an avuncular North American who was the last to see the late pope; and Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci), a reformer determined to keep Tedesco from the papacy at any price. Strongly held opinions, passionate beliefs about the church’s direction, and plain old personal dislike all come together in a combustible mixture.

Throw in a secretly ordained archbishop for Kabul (Carlos Diehz) and terror attacks in Europe, and this conclave could be one for the history books…

There’s nothing I love more than a smart movie with a good script. Conclave grabs your attention from the beginning, with the ominous score underlining the pope’s death and the burdens born by Dean Lawrence. As the archbishops come together, lobby for one another, and expose old sins and present evils, the tension tightens. Few things reveal character as well as stress, and as the days drag on, the archbishops see each other with the masks off.

Where this film shines is in the introspection demanded of its characters - those who sin, those who overreach, and those who must sit in judgment. Their own self-assessment, their need to recognize their failings and choose the path they wish to follow are the strongest part of the film. The intrigue in the plot keeps the story moving, but it’s the personal dramas that give the movie heart.

Luckily the cast have the talent to bring these internal struggles to life: Fiennes and Tucci are particularly good and I enjoyed every moment they were on screen. Director Edward Berger backs up his cast with meticulous sets and suitably detailed costumes, giving audiences an immersive sense of place. It feels like we really are witnesses to an historic ritual, mysterious and secretive, that can be used and abused to set the direction of one of the world’s most powerful religious institutions.

Where Conclave is weakest is in its final revelation, which seems a bit facile; a bit of a letdown after the magnificently drawn-out tension in the rest of the film. This plot turn should offer a profound statement about personhood, priesthood, and the future of the Catholic Church, but it doesn’t quite ring true for me. That’s not to say it won’t be a profound moment for other viewers; it simply isn’t for me.

On the bright side, Conclave is almost completely devoid of any negative content. Brief background smoking, mention of past scandals, and an explosion that causes minor injuries are all there is. It’s been a long time since I saw a PG-movie aimed at adults and I wish Hollywood would make more of them. This film isn’t juvenile – far from it – but it’s both clean and clever and that’s a combination I would love to see more often. In fact, it would feel miraculous.

Directed by Edward Berger. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow. Running time: 120 minutes. Theatrical release October 25, 2024. Updated

Watch the trailer for Conclave

Conclave
Rating & Content Info

Why is Conclave rated PG? Conclave is rated PG by the MPAA for thematic material and smoking.

Violence: There are frequent shots of a dead man, in his bed, in a shroud, and being transported. An explosion blows out a cathedral window leaving some men with minor, visible injuries. This blast is part of a series of explosions in European cities, which are mentioned (as are casualties) but not seen.
Sexual Content:   There’s a non-explicit discussion about a sexual relationship between a 30 year old man and a 19 year old woman that resulted in an illegitimate child. Spoiler: There’s a discussion about a person being intersex.
Profanity: None.
Alcohol / Drug Use:   Adults are seen smoking cigarettes.

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Conclave Parents' Guide

Which of the cardinals would you support? Why? Did you think the exposed scandals were disqualifying? Why or why not? Do you think sincere repentance should erase past misdeeds? How can that sincerity be measured? What do you think are the most important characteristics of a Christian church? Which of the cardinals in the film best promoted those? How does ambition influence the behavior of the main characters?

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This film is based on the novel Conclave by Robert Harris.

Home Video

Related home video titles:

For a real life tale of papal succession, you can watch The Two Popes. This excellent film imagines conversations between Pope Benedict and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) as Benedict decides whether to retire and pass on the burdens of the papacy.

12 Angry Men sequesters another group, this one to determine the fate of an accused murderer. As the jurors debate, different world views emerge, and the truth might or might not be found.