With conclave has Edward Berger The book of the same name by Robert Harris was made into a film. The thriller presents Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) with the difficult task of organizing the next election of the head of the Catholic Church after the death of the Pope. But although there are already favorites for the successor, the priest soon finds himself caught up in a web of intrigue and manipulation that makes the appointment of a new pope increasingly difficult.
Before the conclave cinema release on November 21, 2024, Moviepilot spoke with the German Oscar winner Edward Berger (Nothing New in the West) about his new film, religion, thriller role models, James Bond rumors and surprising stars with whom he would like to work in the future would rotate.
Conclave director Edward Berger in an interview
Movie pilot: How did you get involved in Conclave?
Did you know Robert Harris’ book * before?
Edward Berger: No. I got a call from the producer Tessa Ross who said, ‘I might have a script for you.’ When she mentioned screenwriter Peter Straughan, I immediately sat up and read the first draft. What he does so great: He writes an exciting plot for an interesting story, in a mysterious environment that I don’t know yet but would like to get to know. And on top of that, a beautiful inner journey for the main character: the journey of doubt for Ralph Fiennes.
As well as a great twist at the end, which of course we won’t reveal here.
Yes, of course. The film has many twists and turns that come as a surprise. If they suddenly sweep me off my chair because I wasn’t expecting it, that’s always good.
The cast of Konklave fits like a glove, especially Ralph Fiennes. Was he intended to be the main character from the start?
There were theoretical replacements for Ralph Fiennes, but I always thought: I hope I don’t have to fall back on them. I wasn’t sure how I would have made the film if I hadn’t gotten it. But luckily when we sent him the script he said ‘yes’ straight away.
Of course, we spent two or three years developing the script before we even thought about casting. At some point I noticed that the main character doesn’t talk much. He listens primarily from the second or fifth row and prefers to manage in the dark. Then I thought to myself: I need someone who expresses this aversion to the spotlight with their eyes. Then I thought of Ralph Fiennes. Because he is someone who is incredibly good at letting us share in his inner life of thoughts and feelings through his eyes.
Did the Gretchen question play a role on set: How do you feel about religion?
I have with Ralph [Fiennes] talked a lot about faith. Not necessarily about religion, because I think that’s relatively unimportant. But I find all religions interesting as cultural pillars. No matter how much people complain about them, you have to imagine if we didn’t have them. Then we wouldn’t have a lot of our culture, history and identity. There wouldn’t be much left.
That’s what Ralph’s character is all about: doubt. He says he has difficulty praying. Saying that as a cardinal is like me [als Regisseur] I would say that I had lost faith in the power of images. The entire basis for my existence would be withdrawn from me. This is a big crisis and we’ve talked about it a lot.
Do you think Conclave will spark discussions about religion and church staff after its theatrical release?
I hope so. I always think it’s good when films spark discussions. Especially if you listen to each other and don’t just shut down and say ‘I don’t want to talk to them’. I think it’s extremely important that we exchange ideas and learn from each other: if we understand what the other person means by listening and are open to it.
I think, in the end, Conclave is not just a film about religion, but above all about politics. The film could have been set in Washington, DC, or in a large corporation where leadership is suddenly empty and various parties are pulling out their knives to take the throne.
I kept thinking about The Twelve Jurors while watching. Did you have similar inspirations or other films in mind?
[Die zwölf Geschworenen] Of course I saw it, also in preparation. Because it is a dialogue film with many characters in one room and we also move in one place. But most of all I watched Pakula’s political conspiracy thrillers from the 70s. For example, The Untouchables or Witness a Conspiracy with Warren Beatty. Conclave was my opportunity to do such a political conspiracy thriller.
Has the success and Oscar win of Nothing New in the West changed anything for you and your career?
I don’t think about it much. Basically, I have to focus on what film I want to make for myself. Which film is good for me? What do I have to talk to him about? I mainly look at characters and what they have to do with me. Whether these films are big or small doesn’t matter.
Does James Bond have anything to do with you? There were rumors recently that you had been asked?
Yes, but those are rumors. They have nothing to do with reality.
Would you like to do it if someone offered it to you?
I grew up with James Bond. That has a lot to do with me: with my youth and my dreams. Of course that’s interesting. But that is completely out of discussion. So I don’t think about it either.
What about projects that sound a little more concrete: a new one Jason Bourne-Film or Ocean’s 14?
These are all always rumors. I don’t know what will come next yet. I made a film based on Conclave, which I shot in August. It’s called The Ballad of a Small Player with Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton. I’m currently cutting it with great joy. That takes up my entire focus for now. Who knows what will come next – the world is changing so quickly. And what really moves you changes from day to day. I’ll decide that sometime in the spring.
Do you have any other dreams about what you really want to try out or who you want to shoot with?
This is endless. I would always like to try things that I can’t yet. Where I have the feeling: I’m on unsafe ground and I’m afraid of them. And there are so many things that I fear or respect!
And with actors? [überlegt] I think Zendaya is fantastic. I think Julia Roberts is terrific. That would be a constellation that I would find beautiful.
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