The Room Next Door – Film Review
by Frank L

Director Pedro Almodóvar
Writers Pedro Almodóvar, Sigrid Nunez
Stars John Turturro, Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton

Almodovar is and always has been a courageous filmmaker. He was born in 1949 and is now 75 years old. He and his age cohort have different concerns from those which dominated their thoughts in their youthful past. As a result, Almodovar has now turned his gaze onto the subject of death but more particularly assisted dying.

He has chosen the world of literary New York to be the backdrop and this is his first English language film. Martha (Tilda Swinton) is a retired war reporter who previously worked on a magazine where one of her colleagues was, now a successful novelist, Ingrid (Julianne Moore). By chance, Ingrid hears that Martha is in hospital with incurable cancer, and visits her there. Immediately the strength of their old friendship is reawakened. Although Martha is a mother she is estranged from her daughter Michele. Michele’s father had never been part of Michele’s life. Martha is now alone in the world. She does not want to die alone but she does want to die on her own terms. She has made a carefully worked-out plan. She has asked some of her female friends to be with her on her final journey but each has declined. Now she asks Ingrid who, after a great deal of hesitation, accepts the challenge. Matilda rents a splendid, uncompromisingly modern house in the beautiful countryside where they can live quietly as Matilda prepares herself for the final act, having informed Ingrid precisely what to expect. Ingrid will be in the room next door, hence the title.

Almodovar keeps the story within the mundane most of the time, as the two women discuss Martha’s relationship with Michele, her relationship with Michele’s father, and her affair with Damian (John Turturro) who subsequently had an affair with Ingrid. Almodavar concentrates on the simple everyday happenings and even includes Ingrid going to the local gym to work out. But the whole time Almodovar is developing the value of friendship and the importance of a friend being present at a challenging time.

The cinematography is littered with Almodovar’s acute sense of colour. His trademark red makes an early appearance with an endpaper of Ingrid’s new novel an imposing red shade. Throughout Martha and Ingrid are beautifully dressed in informal but sophisticated clothes. The interiors are all calmly elegant. There are many highlights to savour; it is a visual delight.

Another impressive aspect is the use of the final passage of James Joyce’s The Dead and there is even an excerpt of Donal McCann speaking part of the text from John Huston’s film The Dead. It is all entirely appropriate.

Notwithstanding all these positive comments the glory of the film is Swinton’s intense but gentle reprise of Martha. It is so measured. She has you on her side for this challenging deed. It is an outstanding performance worthy of all the plaudits. Moore as Ingrid is a thoughtful and generous friend to Martha. Her initial natural wariness of the plan she manages to overcome and is a true friend as Martha’s plan proceeds. She is an absolute brick. It is all perfectly paced and undramatic.

Assisted dying is a deeply controversial topic. Almodovar fearlessly enters the debate with this challenging but magnificent film. It is calm and thoughtful. It won the Golden Lion Award at the 2024 Venice Film Festival and the award was well deserved.