Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar has become one of the most beloved auteurs in international cinema with his unique brand of delicious melodramas. His latest film, The Room Next Door, is his first feature in English (following his short Strange Way of Life). Starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, Almodóvar’s film has a ton of very strong elements, and while they don’t all come together as well as one would hope, his latest work is still engaging and compelling.
The Room Next Door Review
Based on the novel What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, The Room Next Door follows two longtime friends who, after having drifted apart, are drawn back together when one of them receives a terminal diagnosis and decides to end their own life. Throughout their final days together, they reminisce about the past and their relationships, trying to make amends with each other and themselves.
This premise is ripe for exploration. Many filmmakers — from Francois Ozon to Mark Duplass — have made films about euthanasia and assisted suicide. However, Almodóvar does not seem to be interested in talking about the ethics of this taboo topic. Instead, he seems interested in exploring how this situation allows the characters to confront the ideas of life and death and live in the moment.
With the film not offering anything thematically profound, one would at least expect it to be emotionally affecting. However, those familiar with Almodóvar’s work know that he’s not exactly in the business of making “serious” films. The Room Next Door shares the typical melodramatic leanings of his writings, along with the sardonic sense of humor that has become even more pronounced in his recent output. For a movie that is literally about someone dying, Almodóvar’s latest is strangely fun to watch.
That being said, the film does leave something to be desired regarding character. The only real background we get on these characters is delivered through flashbacks that are used to fill in the gaps of why these characters feel how they do. In a way, it almost would have been preferable to have the characters be total archetypes — little more than devices to convey dialogue and message.
That being said, the material still gives its performers plenty to work with. Julianne Moore’s character is not particularly interesting, as she is essentially a blank slate to react to whatever Swinton says or does. Yet, those reactions are impressive thanks to the nuanced emotion Moore can capture through dialogue and mannerisms. She captures a complicated feeling D somewhere between sadness and idealism, serving as an almost counterpoint to Swinton’s turn.
While Moore is good, Tilda Swinton’s performance is an absolute slam-dunk. Swinton is best known for her chameleonic work and playing larger-than-life characters, so it’s refreshing to see her get to do something as bare and vulnerable as this. Her comedic tendencies lend themselves well to the frank dialogue she has to work with, but she also brings a lot of authenticity and poignancy.
Although the film is primarily a two-hander for Swinton and Moore, some performers in the supporting cast get moments to shine. John Turturro has a few scenes as someone with a mutual connection to the central duo, and he really accentuates Moore in his scenes. And while it’s just one scene, Alessandro Nivola’s very flashy performance makes quite an impact.
Of course, The Room Next Door has no shortage of visual splendor, even if its story might be one of his most contained. Even though the second and third acts are primarily set in and around a single house, this is a gorgeous film to look at. Of course, it helps that the location and production design are top-notch, but Albert Grau’s painterly cinematography is excellent. Frequent Almodóvar collaborator Alberto Iglesias also delivers another absolute banger of a score.
Is The Room Next Door worth watching?
Although it is a relatively minor work from Almodóvar, the filmmaker’s feature-length English debut is still worth watching. The Room Next Door contains sharp dialogue, great performances, and incredible style that makes it very watchable. Although one might have hoped for something more profound and impactful, this is well-made nonetheless.
The Room Next Door is playing at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, which runs September 5-14.
The Room Next Door TIFF Review — Pedro Almodóvar’s English Feature Debut Is Slight but Interesting
The Room Next Door doesn’t offer a particularly profound experience, but it has many of Almodóvar’s trademarks, including sharp dialogue, juicy melodrama, great visuals, and — of course — two tremendous lead performances.
