‘Conclave’ director Edward Berger on his film’s message of hope and faith
Director Edward Berger‘s award-winning last film, “All’s Quiet on the Western Front,” recounting the horrors of war, but the battles waged in his latest film, “Conclave,” are of a far more subtle nature, though perhaps equally treacherous. For Berger, though, both films are connected by a personal motivation.
“I need to feel that I have something to say with this movie and that I connect to it, that it comes from within me, that I know why I’m getting up in the morning,” he tells Gold Derby. “That’s the main thing. I need to know why am I making this movie, who am I making it for, and why am I making it now…. That’s what drives me.”
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“Conclave,” which is currently among the top five films predicted to be nominated for Best Picture, along with other categories, is a thrilling drama starring Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, who leads the selection process for the next pope, amid revelations of long-held secrets and scandals. Other members of the award-winning ensemble include Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow.
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Berger says he always had Fiennes in mind for the role — so much so that he took a character that was written in the book the film is based on as Italian and made him English. “He’s the eyes and ears into this world, and, hopefully, that makes you feel close to the story and be invested in the story,” says Berger. He also credits him with wholeheartedly supporting the ensemble, whether or not he’s in the scene. “Ralph gives the performance of a lifetime behind the camera. He gives everything for Stanley Tucci, for Isabella Rossellini,” he says. “He’s that generous and doesn’t hold back… And that’s a beautiful feeling.”
Meanwhile, all of the infighting and plotting between the cardinals is taking place amid the most visually striking backgrounds — accurately recreating the halls of the Vatican was of paramount importance to Berger and his team. “You want to represent the the sterility of this conclave, to represent that you’re being locked away from the world,” he says. “We wanted to design sterile worlds where they’re sequestered, that feels almost like a jail.” He worked with costume designer Lisy Christl to contrast those gray marble halls with bright, vibrant red robes for the cardinals.
Without giving away any spoilers, Berger says the film’s message is one of hope. “We’re all in a moment of crisis once in a while, we have our problems, we lose faith in ourselves, in the world,” he says. “And in the end, we come out with a resolve, with an understanding of ourselves and the world that hopefully brings a smile to our lips.”
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