When acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival this year for his first English-language feature, The Room Next Door, reactions were mixed. Some were stunned to learn this was his first major European festival prize, while others questioned if this particular film deserved such an honor. However, most agree that Almodóvar’s signature style shines through, even in a new language.
A Reunion of Old Friends
The film, adapted by Almodóvar from Sigrid Nunez’s novel What Are You Going Through, stars Julianne Moore as Ingrid, a bestselling author who reconnects with her dying friend Martha, played by Tilda Swinton. The two deliver what critics are calling “luxuriously self-aware performances” as they navigate the complexities of rekindled friendship in the face of mortality.
Despite being set in the US, The Room Next Door was filmed primarily on sets and locations in Spain. Some have argued that this English-language shift exposes Almodóvar’s signature stylization, making it feel artificial. Yet for many, it only emphasizes his unique cinematic language, honed through the influence of masters like Hitchcock and Sirk.
Layered Storytelling
As always with Almodóvar, the narrative is layered with flashbacks and tangential scenes that contribute to the film’s rich texture rather than propelling the plot forward in a conventional manner. The lush orchestral score, vivid color palette (especially the recurring deep red), and the central ethical dilemma of assisted dying all combine to create an immersive, thought-provoking experience.
The Room Next Door is very Almodóvarian: a dreamlike curation of people and places which is not entirely realistic.
– Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Controversial Subject Matter
The film’s central premise revolves around Martha’s intention to end her life through assisted suicide, a topic that has sparked heated debate globally. While the characters’ apparent wealth may make this option seem more palatable, the ideas are still fiercely and absorbingly presented, forcing the audience to grapple with the realities of mortality and the right to die with dignity.
Some key aspects of The Room Next Door that make it quintessentially Almodóvar:
- Extravagant visual style with saturated colors
- Complex, layered storytelling
- Strong female leads navigating difficult emotions
- Exploration of taboo subjects like death and assisted suicide
- Blending of realism and dreamlike elements
Oscar Buzz and Beyond
With the Golden Lion win and critical acclaim, The Room Next Door seems poised to make a strong showing in the upcoming awards season. Almodóvar has been nominated for multiple Oscars in the past, winning Best Original Screenplay for Talk to Her in 2003, but the coveted Best Picture and Best Director prizes have thus far eluded him. Could this be the film that finally secures his place in the elite ranks of international auteurs recognized by the Academy?
Regardless of its awards fate, The Room Next Door stands as a testament to Almodóvar’s enduring vision and his ability to craft profound, affecting stories that resonate across linguistic and cultural boundaries. As the film opens in theaters worldwide, audiences will have the opportunity to experience this singular work from a master filmmaker, one that challenges us to confront the most fundamental human experiences of love, loss, and the inevitable farewell we must all face in the end.
