The Room Next Door
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
In Theaters: January 17
Viewing art often requires context. Take a painting by Pablo Picasso or Norman Rockwell; you expect certain styles and techniques. The same goes for film. With The Room Next Door, it’s essential to recognize it as a Pedro Almodóvar film to fully appreciate it.
The movie tells the story of Ingrid, played by Julianne Moore, a successful novelist. She reconnects with her old friend Martha, portrayed by Tilda Swinton, a war correspondent, after learning that Martha has terminal cancer. Their friendship deepens as Martha shares her life story and reveals her choice to end her life on her own terms.
Martha rents a quiet house in upstate New York and asks Ingrid to be close when the time comes. This request leaves Ingrid conflicted, prompting her to seek advice from Damian, played by John Turturro, who once loved both women. Together, they confront the weight of their past, death, and the complexity of love and choices.
This film marks Almodóvar’s first venture into English-language cinema, though he revisited Spanish with the short film Strange Way of Life in 2023. Known for his intense emotional style, this film retains elements of camp but at times feels overly dramatic in English. Spanish cinema usually softens such moments, allowing audiences to engage without skepticism. At points, the dialogue and orchestral music give a soap opera-like vibe, making it hard to determine if scenes are serious or unintentionally funny.
Despite these quirks, Swinton and Moore deliver honest performances, anchoring the drama with depth. Swinton portrays the troubled Martha beautifully, and there’s a notable twist involving her character that, while intriguing, feels more like an experiment than an emotional revelation. Moore’s standout presence ties the film together, though she sometimes grapples with the more peculiar lines she’s given. Meanwhile, Turturro avoids overdoing his role but contributes to moments that can stretch the film’s pace. A brief appearance by Alessandro Nivola as a police officer leaves a memorable impression.
The Room Next Door will certainly attract Almodóvar fans with its ambitious storytelling. However, I found it overly sentimental and clear-cut at times. The film depicts the women casually using illegally obtained pills, which felt unsettling given the serious real-life consequences of such actions. While it’s an emotionally charged drama, I wished for a deeper exploration of its themes.
— Patrick Gibbs
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