Pedro Almodóvar’s mastery in understanding female characters shines once again in his first English-language feature, The Room Next Door 2024 movie. Known for his deep connection with the actresses who bring his characters to life, Almodóvar infuses The Room Next Door 2024 movie with his signature visual style, even as it navigates the heavy themes of life, death, and friendship. The film is an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s 2020 novel What Are You Going Through, where a terminally ill woman asks an old friend to stay with her as she prepares to end her life. Though the film starts off with prose-heavy dialogue that feels somewhat stiff, the shift in setting and the performances of Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore breathe life into The Room Next Door 2024 movie.
Almodóvar’s previous English-language work includes two shorts: The Human Voice with Tilda Swinton and Strange Way of Life, a queer cowboy love story. Both films embraced melodrama, but The Room Next Door 2024 movie takes a more restrained approach. This results in a measured drama that, at times, risks becoming an intellectual exercise. Yet, thanks to the accomplished performances of Swinton and Moore, The Room Next Door 2024 movie manages to stay emotionally resonant.
From the very beginning, Almodóvar’s attention to visual detail is evident. The use of color, symmetry, and spatial lines adds depth to the characters’ inner lives, a hallmark of his work. In The Room Next Door 2024 movie, this is particularly noticeable in the hospital scenes, where the costumes and production design create a vivid world. However, it’s when the story moves from Manhattan to a modernist rental near Woodstock that the film truly comes alive emotionally
The architectural design of the house in the woods, with its cubic boxes of wood and glass, mirrors the film’s exploration of its characters. The sharp geometric lines in the interiors dissect the two women, reflecting their psychological states. The cinematography by Eduard Grau enhances this effect, using close-ups to draw the audience closer to the characters, stripping away any remaining distance.
In The Room Next Door 2024 movie, Julianne Moore plays Ingrid, a successful writer who reconnects with her old friend Martha, played by Tilda Swinton. The two had drifted apart over the years, partly due to Martha’s work as a war correspondent. The initial awkwardness between them quickly fades when Ingrid visits Martha in the hospital, where Martha reveals her terminal cancer diagnosis. However, the film’s early dialogue feels a bit forced, as if lifted directly from the novel, which might have benefited from a more fluid adaptation.
Martha shares that she has little contact with her daughter, Michelle, due to their strained relationship. Flashbacks reveal Martha’s brief relationship with Michelle’s father, a Vietnam War veteran whose life ended tragically. These scenes, while visually striking, feel somewhat extraneous to the central narrative.
The film truly takes off when Martha asks Ingrid to stay with her during her final days. Despite Ingrid’s initial hesitation, she agrees, and the two women spend a month together in the secluded house. Martha finds solace in simple pleasures like listening to birds or watching old movies, while Swinton’s performance brings out the character’s complex emotions, from selfishness to vulnerability.
The Room Next Door 2024 movie doesn’t dwell on the moral questions surrounding euthanasia, focusing instead on the emotional journey of its characters. Swinton and Moore bring heart and depth to the film, making their characters’ relationship the core of the story. John Turturro and Alessandro Nivola also deliver strong performances in their supporting roles, adding layers to the narrative.
While The Room Next Door 2024 movie may feel subdued at times, it benefits from Alberto Iglesias’ lush score, which adds emotional weight to the film. The cinematography, particularly the serene camera work, suggests a sense of peace and acceptance as the story progresses. Although shot mostly in Spain, the film captures the essence of its settings, if not the exact geographical details.
In the end, The Room Next Door 2024 movie resonates with its exploration of companionship and the human condition, offering a poignant and poetic reflection on life and death. The film’s final moments, enriched by a passage from James Joyce’s The Dead, provide a fitting and emotionally charged conclusion to Almodóvar’s latest work.
