Writer / director Pedro Almodóvar‘s “The Room Next Door” is a film that offers both a delicate exploration of friendship and mortality and a slow-burn narrative that feels heavily inspired by its literary origins. Adapted from the 2020 novel “What Are You Going Through” by Sigrid Nunez, the film’s meandering plot can sometimes feel like it’s trying to stretch out a simple idea as Almodóvar takes his time to get to the core of its story. The measured pace might try some viewers’ patience, but the well-developed characters and meaningful themes make for an interesting and fully engaging experience.
Old friends Ingrid (Julianne Moore) and Martha (Tilda Swinton) reconnect after the latter is diagnosed with Stage IV cervical cancer. Ingrid is an author who wrote a book about her fear of death and Martha is a former war correspondent who is frustrated that she is unable to write due to chemotherapy treatments. Growing tired of and medical routine, Martha asks Ingrid the unthinkable: to go with her to a remote location and help her commit suicide.
At the heart of the film is the rekindled friendship between these two women, and Almodóvar casually exposes their past history together. The two once worked as colleagues at a magazine in their younger days, the years (and life) causing them to drift apart. Now due to a random twist of fate, the former friends come together again. This creates a compelling backdrop for a story about second chances, confronting death, and facing personal regrets.
The plot is straightforward, but it’s the dialogue and writing that is so honest and authentic, especially as the pair discuss the choices they’ve made in relation to the threat of mortality that’s currently knocking at the door. The film’s structure is far from conventional, as it unfolds in a series of flashbacks and subtle reveals that stretch the narrative into something more introspective and meditative. This is a story about two highly intelligent, well-read, and thoughtful women talking about their lives, their choices, and their fears, which is uncommon and refreshing to see on screen.
The strength of the film lies not in action or drama, but in the simple, raw exchanges between Ingrid and Martha as they discuss the weight of their shared history. These are two deeply flawed but captivating characters who are burdened by their pasts and yet somehow remain hopeful. Moore and Swinton bring these characters to life with a riveting level of complexity and natural chemistry, relishing in the articulate dialogue about their desires and fears.
Boasting strong performances and a deeply introspective script, “The Room Next Door” is rich in thematic nuance. This is a story about the bonds between women and is a meaningful exploration of what friendship truly means.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 