When the sitting Pope shuffles off this mortal coil, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is handed the responsibility of marshalling the Catholic Church’s most influential figures and orchestrating the arcane process of electing a successor. Sequestered in the Vatican, several cardinals—including John Lithgow’s Cardinal Tremblay—turn cutthroat in their bid to lay claim to the papal throne. As conspiracies come to light and factions are formed, the unassuming Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz) harbours a secret that may have seismic consequences.
In his follow up to the Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front, Edward Berger delivers another immaculately crafted, psychologically complex morality tale. Gifted with a gloriously refined screenplay by Peter Straughan (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), Berger elicits finely calibrated performances from a powerhouse cast that includes Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini. And while Stephane Fontaine’s cinematography ensures a succession of sublime compositions, it’s the dramatic tension resulting from faith running afoul of corruption that keeps us riveted.
Media Partner
Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Carlos Diehz, Lucian Msamati, Brían F. O’Byrne
USA/UK
2024
In English and Italian with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Steven Rales, Glen Basner, Alison Cohen, Milan Popelka, Ben Browning, Len Blavatnik, Danny Cohen, Zoe Edwards, Harry Dixon, Paul Randle, Tomas Alfredson, Edward Berger, Ralph Fiennes, Peter Straughan, Robyn Slovo, Mario Gianani, Lorenzo Gangarossa
Producer
Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Michael A. Jackman, Robert Harris, Alice Dawson
Cinematography
Stéphane Fontaine
Screenwriter
Peter Straughan
Editor
Nick Emerson
Production Design
Suzie Davies
Original Music
Volker Bertelmann
Edward Berger
Edward Berger is a German director and screenwriter. His notable work includes the critically acclaimed TV series Deutschland 83 (2015) and the feature drama Jack (2014). His adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s classic novel, All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), earned him three BAFTA Awards, the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, and a nomination for Best Director.
Filmography: Jack (2014); All My Loving (2019); All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
That They May Face the Rising Sun
John and Kate have moved from London to a farm in Ireland, to the bemusement of the locals. This lyrical Irish reverie taps deep wells of feeling in the stuff of everyday life.
Secret Mall Apartment
The stranger-than-fiction true story of a group of artists who built and furnished a hidden apartment inside a mall, remaining undetected for years. This is an absurdly fun and surprisingly profound film about gentrification and art.
The Encampments
When pro-Palestine protests took hold of Columbia last year, the filmmakers were there from the beginning. This documentary charts the mounting tensions between students and the administration, as the protests were picked up across North America.
The Teacher
In this potent thriller, English teacher Basem witnesses the murder of a teenager by a Israeli settler. While the subsequent investigation rolls slowly towards a foregone conclusion, the teacher is caught up in a parallel kidnapping case...
Bob Trevino Likes It
When her toxic, narcissistic dad cuts her out of his life, Lily Trevino looks him up on Facebook and happens across his namesake, Bob (John Leguizamo), a gentle, genial contractor who lives nearby, and who proves an altogether better dad...
A Duke Ellington Tribute with the Mike Braverman Sextet
After a scintillating session of Duke standards performed by The Mike Braverman Sextet, enjoy a roundup of Ellingtonia on Film: his first short sound films from the late 20s and 30s, and clips from the scores he composed in the 50s and 60s.