'Conclave' with Stanley Tucci and Edward Berger

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It – Episode 'Conclave' with Stanley Tucci and Edward Berger

Introduction

In this episode of All Of It, hosted by Alison Stewart, WNYC delves into the acclaimed film Conclave with special guests actor Stanley Tucci and director Edward Berger. Released on December 19, 2024, Conclave has garnered significant attention, earning 11 Critics' Choice Award nominations and several Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture. Now available for streaming on Peacock, the film offers a gripping portrayal of the intricate and often clandestine process of selecting a new Pope following the death of the incumbent.

Film Overview

Conclave centers around the death of the Pope, prompting a gathering of cardinals tasked with electing his successor. The narrative unfolds as various factions emerge, representing different theological and political ideologies. The candidates include:

• A staunch traditionalist
• A center-right conservative
• A figure with homophobic views
• A newcomer with exceptionally liberal perspectives

Stanley Tucci portrays Aldo Bellini, an American cardinal advocating for progressivism. Early in the film, Bellini expresses ambivalence about the papacy, highlighting his internal conflict and moral compass.

Notable Clip Analysis

A pivotal scene features Cardinal Bellini (Tucci) conversing with Cardinal Dean Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes):

• [00:56] Stanley Tucci as Aldo Bellini:

  "Father Bellini. Aldo. Am I the last one?... No sane man would want the papacy... What if I know in my heart that I am not worthy?"

This exchange underscores Bellini's humility and the weight of responsibility that comes with the potential role of Pope.

Guest Insights

Stanley Tucci on His Role and Character Development

Tucci discusses his character’s journey, emphasizing the theme of self-discovery and trust:

• [04:20] Stanley Tucci:

  "Sometimes you become friends... morally, they are twins, I think... that's what brings them together."

He elaborates on Bellini's realization of his true desires and self-worth, stating:

• [13:04] Stanley Tucci:

  "He thinks he doesn't want it because we don't. He doesn't know himself yet... We all think we know ourselves, but we don't."

Edward Berger on Directing and Casting

Director Edward Berger shares his experience in bringing Conclave to life, highlighting the importance of timing and casting:

• [02:13] Edward Berger:

  "It's the perfect timing, actually, for both of them... finding wonderful actors like Stanley Tucci."

He emphasizes the chemistry between Tucci and Ralph Fiennes, noting how their differing personalities enhance their on-screen friendship:

• [06:02] Edward Berger:

  "They have very different acting styles that I think can complement each other beautifully."

Balancing Drama and Humor

While Conclave is primarily a drama, Berger explains the infusion of humor to add depth and relatability:

• [08:50] Edward Berger:

  "It's a thriller and it's dramatic, but it's... the actors bring the humor to the film."

He provides examples of unexpected elements, such as placing modern objects in sacred settings, to elicit genuine laughter from both characters and the audience.

Themes and Messages

The conversation delves into the central themes of the film, particularly the significance of doubt and self-trust in leadership:

• [14:06] Edward Berger:

  "He says, the next pope, someone who has doubts... no one knows in faith or politics... the expression of doubt invites discussion."

Stanley Tucci adds his perspective on the film's relevance to current political climates, emphasizing the portrayal of political intrigue without overt messaging:

• [19:12] Stanley Tucci:

  "The movie has the machinations of what's happening and the political intrigue... it's on a precipice politically... we're seeing it unfold before us."

Personal Reflections and Production Insights

Stanley Tucci on Personal Beliefs and Acting

Tucci reflects on his relationship with religion, influenced by his upbringing and personal beliefs:

• [15:50] Stanley Tucci:

  "I was raised Catholic... I don't think that... I'm not a religious person, and that's my choice."

He discusses how portraying Bellini allowed him to revisit and reinterpret his own experiences with faith and morality.

Edward Berger on Filming in Rome

Berger shares his decision to film Conclave in Rome, highlighting how the city's atmosphere and architecture enriched the film's authenticity:

• [17:53] Edward Berger:

  "Rome became such an important element to the shooting and to the atmosphere of the film... the humanity became the main driving force for the film."

Conclusion

The episode concludes with insights into the collaborative dynamic between Tucci and Berger, underscoring their mutual respect and shared vision for Conclave. Tucci remarks on their real-life friendship enhancing their on-screen chemistry:

• [06:59] Stanley Tucci:

  "We are very different people... it just felt inherently right."

Gerger echoes this sentiment, highlighting the complementary nature of their performances and the film's exploration of trust, doubt, and moral integrity.

Final Thoughts

Conclave emerges as a compelling drama that intricately weaves political maneuvering with profound personal journeys. Through the nuanced performances of Stanley Tucci and Ralph Fiennes, and Edward Berger's adept direction, the film invites audiences to ponder the complexities of leadership, faith, and the human condition.

For those interested in exploring these themes further, Conclave is now available for streaming on Peacock.

Transcript

[Host]

Listener support WNYC studios In the new film Conclave, the Pope has died and a group of cardinals are convened to select a new one. Factions are formed on papal and political lines. One candidate represents staunch traditionalism. Another is more center right conservative. Another espouses homophobic views. And one newcomer enters the fray with exceptionally liberal views. Actor Stanley Tucci plays Aldo Bellini, an American cardinal who champions progressivism. He says he doesn't really want the petition until he does. Here's a clip from early in the film to which Tucci's character, Cardinal Bellini, is speaking to Cardinal Dean Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes.

[Stanley Tucci]

Father Bellini. Aldo. Am I the last one? Not quite. How are you? Oh, well, you know, fairly dreadful. Have you seen the papers? Apparently it's already decided it's to be me. And I happen to agree with them. What if I don't want it? No sane man would want the papacy. Some of our colleagues seem to want it. What if I know in my heart that I am not worthy? You are more worthy than any of us. I'm not. Well, then tell your supporters not to vote for you to pass the chalice. And I go to him. And I could never live with myself.

[Host]

Conclave is nominated for the Critics Choice Award with 11 nominations. It's also nominated for several Golden Globes, including Best Picture. It's now available to stream on Peacock. Please welcome Stanley Tucci. Hi, Stanley.

[Stanley Tucci]

Hi, how are you?

[Host]

I'm doing well, thank you. And director Edward Berger, who won an Oscar for Best International Film for All Quiet on the Western Front. Nice to meet you, Edward.

[Edward Berger]

Hey there.

[Host]

Hey there, Edward. You started thinking about Conclave. Conclave. Excuse me? Around the time or even a little bit before All Quiet on the Western front, you said that went quickly. All Quiet, Conclave Took a while. What took a while? Why did it take a while?

[Edward Berger]

Some movies sort of have a dynamic and they just happen quickly. And All Quiet was sort of, you know, a timely film at the time. And this became timely right now. So it's the perfect timing, actually, for both of them. It's just, you know, getting the script right, finding wonderful actors like Stanley Tucci. He wasn't available for years, and I tried to find, you know, like, followed him around and then I just. I needed him to be in the film. And so. And sometimes, you know, you've scheduled your movies around fantastic people like Stanley.

[Host]

So Stanley, you weren't around for years. It said the man.

[Stanley Tucci]

The man is a pathological liar. But I love.

[Host]

This is going to be interesting. Then you Read the book La Fortuna. When did you hear about the film adaptation?

[Stanley Tucci]

Oh, well, yes, I, I, I read, Excuse me, Red Conclave about four years ago. It was during the last election, so I remember very distinctly when I read it. And I was sort of sequestered in Spain making a television series, and I just loved it because I loved Robert Harris's writing. And anyway, a couple years later, the script came to me, and I was more than thrilled, also more than thrilled that Edward was directing it. And then all of the pieces came together, as Edward said, because I think the timing was absolutely appropriate because it mirrors a lot of what's happening in our world politically.

[Host]

I'm sorry, I said you read. You were filming La Fortuna.

[Stanley Tucci]

Yeah, I was filming Lafuna. That's all right. That's all right. I didn't want to correct you.

[Host]

Well, they appreciate it, but please do. If you, you know, you never know. You know, when we meet Bellini early on, he's the Cardinal Dean's person. He's this guy, as we heard in the intro clip. What are they united by?

[Stanley Tucci]

What are, what are who united by?

[Host]

Sorry, what are, what is Bellini and Lawrence? What are they united by? Why are they friends in a way?

[Stanley Tucci]

Well, you know, sometimes you become friends. You don't know why you become friends with people. Sometimes you may have different views politically or, you know, sort of aesthetically, but morally, they are twins, I think, and I think that they, that's what brings them together. Now, I say that because you can be moral twins with someone because you trust them. But the key thing is that you have to trust yourself. And that is so much about, you know, that's what this movie is about. So much is about trusting yourself and knowing yourself. And as it turns out that that trust of yourself and that trust between them, it becomes slightly broken because of the machinations that are going on. But in the end, their friendship, their friendship succeeds, their friendship goes on because Cardinal Bellini makes an admission that he understands that he. Well, I won't give it away, let's say that.

[Host]

Fair.

[Stanley Tucci]

Edward, it's really about, it's really about friendship is about trust and love and sharing a moral ground.

[Host]

Edward, why was Stanley the right actor to play Bellini?

[Edward Berger]

Well, Stanley has a wonderful, you know, I cast Rafe and Stanley at about the same time, maybe Rafe, sorry, Stanley, a tiny bit before, because you want to make sure that, you know, whoever is right opposite Rafe is the right person. And it felt that Stanley is a wonderful person. I believe there could be friends, and I Believed. And I saw them as, you know, why. They clearly have sympathy towards each other. They feel very different. You know, one is a very, I would say, internal person, and other feels like a bit more communicative. And that felt like a friction that was very interesting to the friendship of these two characters. And I believe that he could absolutely represent someone, you know, with those political views.

[Stanley Tucci]

I think the thing. Edward, what I want to. It's interesting you say that because Rafe and I have become friends in. In real life. We were friendly prior to this, but it has only bonded us, but we are very different people. And yet when we're together, it's. It's great. It's great fun. And I'm a. Yeah, it's huge admirer.

[Edward Berger]

Yeah. And it felt like, you know, two wonderful actors. If they meet each other, there's a. There's a certain, you know, wanting to be there for each other, wanting to be good for each other, wanting to be as good as the other, better as the other one. You know, like, sort of, it's a. It's a little bit of a, you know, a friendly, not battle, but something like, you know, if I. If I have a good discussion with a intelligent partner, you know, that person makes me more intelligent. And that feels like with Rafe and Stanley, you know, that just be, you know, they'd egg each other on, and there would be. And. And they are, you know, you just want to be really good if you're across from Stanley Tuccin. You want to be really good if you're across from Ralph Fiennes. And so that just felt inherently right. And, you know, one is American, the other is British. That comes with very different qualities, and they have very different acting styles that I think can complement each other beautifully.

[Host]

Edward the movie the Conclave is a drama in many ways, but occasionally it's amusing. There are times when I'm amused watching it. How did you figure out how to use the humor? Use the humor and the juiciness of the script when you first read it?

[Edward Berger]

Well, it's. It's. Again, it's. A lot of the actors bring the humor to the film. I mean, the. When you read the. When you read the script, it's obviously, it's a. It's a thriller and it's dramatic, but it's, you know, the. Immediately I had images of. That would break the piousness of the church. That would break the piousness of these jobs that these men have and the old buildings and everything. So it. It just felt like, okay, if I put an Espresso machine into the middle of the. Basically into the Sistine Chapel, into those chambers. If I put a vape into that, if I put cigarettes or iPhones, you know, that is unexpected. And that could come with laughter. And then you get the right people who interpret that and they have fun doing it. And that fun transmits to the. To the screen and to the. And the audience responds to it. And the biggest. It's actually a surprise. I didn't expect it as much. I expected that people would be satisfied. But Isabella Rossellini gets sort of a scene. Applause in many cinemas because she does a curtsy and she tells these men off. Men off, basically. And I think, you know, she hasn't. No one's dared to do it. And so the audience feels relieved and she speaks their mind and so they applaud her for saying that. And so it's really gratifying when that happens.

[Host]

Stanley, I'm interested in how you think about the tone of the project overall versus what you have to bring to the character.

[Stanley Tucci]

Well, no, they're part and parcel. I mean, I think, excuse me, you have to fit, as an actor, you have to fit into the tone of the film. If you don't, if you're playing a tertiary role or a secondary role or, you know, whatever, and the director, first of all, the script, second of all, the director, they set the tone very clearly. And you must be a part of that. If you're not, you're just kind of showing off or trying to be different or trying to get attention or something like that. Separate yourself and you can't. Your job as an actor is to. Is to fit into the story perfectly and to tell that story the way it's meant to be told or the way the director has chosen for it to be told. And that's it. As I said, if you're trying to do something different, then it's a bit, you know, show offy.

[Host]

My guests are actor Stanley Tucci and director Edward Berger. We're discussing Conclave about all the machinations behind selecting a new pope. Let's listen to another clip from Conclave. Bellini claims he doesn't want the papacy, but when people start voting for Lawrence and taking votes away from him, his tune changes a little bit. Let's layer a clip featuring you and Riff Fiennes.

[Stanley Tucci]

I thought we had your support. If we liberals are not united, Tedesco will become Pope. You have no idea how bad it became, Thomas. The way he and his circle attacked the Holy Father towards the end. The smears the leaks to the press. It was savage. He fought him every single day of his pontificate. And now that he's dead, he wants to destroy his life's work. If Tedesco becomes pope, he will undo 60 years of progress. You talk as if you're the only alternative, but Adeyemi has the wind behind him. Adeyemi? Mm. Adeyemi. The man who believes that homosexuals should be sent to prison in this world and hell in the next. Adeyemi's not the answer to anything, and you know it. If you want to defeat Tedesco, this is a conclave, Aldo. It's not a war. It is a war, and you have to commit to a side.

[Host]

Why does. Why does Bellini at first say that he doesn't really want it, Stanley?

[Stanley Tucci]

Because he thinks he doesn't want it because we don't. He doesn't know himself yet, which he says later in the film. He doesn't know himself yet. He thinks he knows him. We all think we know ourselves, but we don't. We. Which is the beautiful part of growing older and the awful part of growing older, and the not knowing and suddenly realizations or epiphanies are what create regrets. So I think that he thinks he doesn't want it because he thinks he's purer than he is. But we all do.

[Host]

Interesting. Before the voting begins, Edward Cardinal Lawrence delivers a speech to all the cardinals in which he says, let us hope the next pope is one who has doubts. How is that message central to the theme of the film?

[Stanley Tucci]

Yeah.

[Edward Berger]

Well, I think it's, you know, he says, the next pope, someone who has doubts, is because the world is full of certainty. We are surrounded by people who say, this is the way. That's the way. But actually, no one knows in faith or politics or anything, or even directing movies. To me, the expression of doubt invites discussion and invites a discourse with other and hearing other people, and then making the wisest decision based on advice and on listening within yourself rather than shouting the loudest. And, you know, that's Rafe's internal journey. He says, basically, I have difficulty with prayer. He goes through a crisis. He doubts his profession. He doubts his faith. And it's almost like I'm saying, I have difficulty believing in the power of the camera, or you saying, I'm definitely believing in my words. And you go through this existential crisis, and that is you start to embrace doubts and. And in the end, he comes out having overcome that and embracing the possibility of a future that brings change to his organization and that's the wonderful arc that he goes through.

[Host]

Stanley, you grew up in the Catholic Church right up in Westchester. How has your relationship with religion changed since childhood and even changed in doing this film?

[Stanley Tucci]

Doing the film was interesting because it was. I was revisiting certain aspects of the Catholic Church that I remember. Yeah, I was raised Catholic, went to church every day, made my first communion. My catechism was confirmed. But by the age of 18, 19, I chose not to go to church any longer. I. I don't think that. To me, I'm not a religious person, and that's my choice. And if someone is Catholic and they believe in Christ, great. If someone is a Buddhist, if someone is a Muslim, if someone is whatever, great. Just don't foist it upon me, that's all. If it makes you happy and it helps you be a stronger, better person, that's great. That is the only issue I have with a lot of organized religion today, which is it seems to be if you don't believe what I believe, then you're a bad person. And I don't believe that. I. My late wife was a secular humanist. And that made a bit more sense to me. And yet I'm a little bit like. I'm a little like Groucho Marx in the sense that I don't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.

[Host]

Edward, you filmed in Rome. Was that always the plan?

[Edward Berger]

Yes, it was. Of course, we evaluated other places for financial reasons because obviously you want to shoot this movie in Rome. But in the end, you know, Rome became such an important element to the shooting and to the atmosphere of the film. And it influenced the film tremendously. Not only the architecture, but also the people and the experiences we had there. For example, you know, when you. When you wake up in the morning, you have your coffee there, and you look out the window and you see a nun smoking a cigarette on the street or two archbishops having a coffee in the cafe downstairs. You realize they're just people, you know, people going to work. And that humanity became the main driving force for the film that became the movie, you know, trying to discover the humanity within. Rafe, Stanley, John Lisko, Lucien Massimati, all the actors in the movie and their.

[Host]

Characters, you know, the movie came out a little over a week after the US general election. Germany's chancellor lost vote of confidence yesterday, which leaves it in the hands of a caretaker government until next year. Stanley, how have the messages of this movie taken on a new meaning for you given recent political events?

[Stanley Tucci]

I don't know the movie has a message as much as it just simply shows the machinations of what's happening and the political intrigue. I can't say it has a message. If you take a message from it, that's up to you. It lays out who these people are and how the Catholic Church deals with the choosing of a new Pope. I think obviously we're in a very. What do I want to say? We're on, we're on a sort of precipice politically in America and throughout the world. The world has not, not, not been here before. However, I don't know. It's simply because we're living through it and it's not in the past. We're not watching documentaries about it that are in black and white. We're here and it's in full color and we're seeing it unfold before us. It's very scary. I think that the more people are able to communicate, the better things are. However, a lot of that communication because of technology is polluted, distorted, unreal. So we've lost not only what we've lost is a sense of what's real and what isn't real because of where we are technologically. And that will obviously affect us emotionally and on the ground. So does this speak to what's happening now? Yes, it does, but I don't think it tries to signal anything.

[Host]

The name of the movie is Conclave. You may stream it now on Peacock. My guests have been Edward Berger, the director, and Stanley Tucci, the actor. Thank you very much for your time today.

[Stanley Tucci]

Thank you.

[Edward Berger]

Thank you so much.

[Stanley Tucci]

Thank you.

[Host]

Grammy winning percussionist Sakir Hussain spent a career bringing the sounds of Indian classical music into the conversation this week at the age of 73. Coming up, we'll celebrate his life and revisit my earlier conversation with him. Stay with us.

[Edward Berger]

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[Host]

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[Edward Berger]

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[Host]

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[Edward Berger]

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[Host]

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