Berger, whose credits include the Oscar-winning “All Quiet on the Western Front,” described “Conclave” as a “chess game of political intrigue” that could have taken place at a multinational company or in Washington. A top job is open, and people are vying for it. “It just happens to be within the Vatican,” he said.

Ralph Fiennes is superb as the cardinal who must oversee the election of a new Pope, an event that fills the Vatican with intrigue, deceit, and betrayal.

With beautiful cinematography and solid performances, "Conclave" is a thrilling tale of a mysterious process, writes Moira Macdonald.

Based on a bestselling novel by Robert Harris, the Oscar-tipped film imagines what goes on behind the scenes of the secretive process – complete with scheming, smearing and leaking.