The Room Next Door
⭐️ ⭐️ (out of 5)
Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar (Volver, Pain & Glory) is a force to be reckoned with and an artist who does not fear taking on subjects he advocates for in life. Over the years, Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz have been regular participants in many of his projects, along with other noticeable talents who complement his signature style. The Room Next Door is his first English-speaking production and is based on the controversial novel What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, which explores the debate on euthanasia.
Ingrid (Julianne Moore) is a celebrated author whose latest novel explores her fear of death, and at her latest book signing comes to a close, a friend asks her if she has heard about their mutual acquaintance, Martha (Tilda Swinton). She and Ingrid had worked together at a magazine in New York. Martha had gone on to become an award-winning war correspondent. Still, now the writer was getting treatment for aggressive cervical cancer. Even though the two women had not spoken in years, Ingrid reached out to her friend. This reconnection allows the pair to resurrect their friendship, eventually leading Martha to ask Ingrid an unexpectedly confronting request. A question that would lead to a decision that could irrevocably change both of their lives.
As this extended conversation between two friends unfolds, Pedro Almodóvar brings his stunning visual eye to this project. Between the settings and the wardrobe choices, the famed director manages to put his signature look on his debut English-speaking film. Along with his visual fingerprints, his filmmaking hand weaves his passion points of desire, LGBTQ issues, motherhood, climate and identity into this screenplay to give it a depth that makes it more than a statement piece on euthanasia. Yet, these elements fail to lift this film above an unusually melodramatic play that struggles to captialise on the talents in front and behind the camera.
Granted, Almodóvar is known for his melodramatic style. Yet, as these two award-winning actresses deliver their lines, it all feels like a time jump back to an era of overacting and caricature. Most of the film is a moralistic dialogue between Moore and Swinton. Still, very little of it felt like they had any chemistry as friends. Considering the troublesome request between these women, the lack of real emotion makes this hard to believe. Then John Turturro’s character is added into a break from the pair's constant back and forth. Still, he becomes more of a distraction than to add something of substance to the storyline. His role as sexual conquest is a bit weak, but when his character goes on his climate change tirade, it becomes evident why he has been added to the film.
Yet, all of this doesn’t matter when the whole project is built on the advocacy for assisted suicide. There is little debate within the screenplay as the only people who push back against this subject are labelled as religious freaks. As one who cannot support the subject matter, regardless of the emotional arguments offered, this whole film crumbled in on itself and did little to push forward the cause it is advocating. Despite the talent displayed by Pedro Almodóvar and the cast, The Room Next Door is not one anyone should be asked to inhabit.
REEL DIALOGUE: Sanctity of life
The Room Next Door has its evident agenda. There is no way to avoid what Sigrid Nunez hopes to achieve in her storyline. Still, if this film does any good, it has the potential to encourage people to know that God cares for them by showing that life does have value.
God knew us all before anyone was born, and they experienced all of life's inevitable trials. He sees all of his creation as a masterpiece, as the psalmist says in Psalm 139, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Also, throughout the trials and travails of this time on earth, he provides hope through the work of his son, Jesus, who came to save us and give us access to eternal life. The final message of the Bible and the life of Jesus is to know that anyone can choose to have this hope of eternal life. A life without tears, without wheelchairs and without pain in the presence of God.
