Film Review - The Room Next Door
Images courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Pedro Almodóvar is undoubtedly the most influential auteur in the world of Spanish cinema, responsible for highly acclaimed films such as All About My Mother, Volver and Pain and Glory. After a long and illustrious career making films in his native tongue, Almodóvar is finally releasing his first English-language feature, The Room Next Door. Winner of the Golden Lion at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, this film proves that the rich cinematic style of Almodóvar transcends all kinds of language barriers.
Adapted from the novel What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, the film follows two women, Ingrid (Julianne Moore) and Martha (Tilda Swinton). The pair were close friends in their younger years while working at the same magazine, but have now lost touch. Ingrid is a successful author, and learns through a friend that Martha is dying of cancer. When Ingrid decides to visit her in hospital, they warmly rekindle their old friendship. As they grow closer and become more involved in each other’s personal lives, Martha asks Ingrid for a very complicated favour. Adamant about keeping her dignity and dying on her own terms, Martha wants to spend her final days in a rented country house. She plans on taking her own life with a euthanasia pill, and have Ingrid be in the room next door when she does it.
Like many Almodóvar films, The Room Next Door is a thought-provoking and poignant story that moves at a steady and reflective pace. The director interrogates life, death, and illness itself, and how we perceive these concepts. Martha’s offer is ethically complex: at first, Ingrid is shocked by the very idea itself, and it is revealed that she is not the first friend Martha has asked. But as Martha slowly wastes away with little quality of life - and is not even able to enjoy basic pleasures like music or reading - Almodóvar puts Ingrid and the audience in a tough position. Is letting Martha self-euthanise actually the kindest thing Inrgrid could do for her? While the narrative arguably swings towards one viewpoint more than the other, things are definitely not black and white. Alongside the heavy themes also plays out a touching story of female friendship and support. Swinton and Moore, two absolute screen legends, are astounding together, and elevate Almodóvar’s dialogue and storytelling to something top tier. This is an unabashed acting masterclass from the pair, and it is a joy to simply watch them sit in rooms and converse. This dialogue heavy and slow-paced style won’t be for everyone, but if you enjoy the work of Almodóvar, you’ll be quite content. His filmmaking trademarks are present, such as rich colours (especially his signature deep red) and a lush orchestral score, and he also manages to sprinkle much needed levity and humour (there are some fabulous one liners) throughout his dramatic script.
While The Room Next Door takes a little while to reveal the intention of its story and really get into, it is a rewarding treat for those who enjoy top class acting and filmmaking. After a bit of an uneven start that relies on exposition and some jarring flashbacks, it finds its rhythm and stays there. Almodóvar, Swinton and Moore are a tour de force trio.
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The Room Next Door is screening in cinemas from Boxing Day. For tickets and more info, click here.