The Room Next Door

Ingrid (Julianne Moore) and Martha (Tilda Swinton) were close friends when young magazine writers, but one became a successful novelist and the other a war correspondent. Their lives drifted apart. Now, Martha is not well and she makes a very special request of her old friend in “The Room Next Door.”

Laura's Review: B

Robin's Review: B

Death is never easy. Our desire to stay alive is, despite good intentions, a futile attempt, at best. As much as we want to stay a part of this mortal coil, sooner or later it ends. Director and co-writer (with Sigrid Nunez) Pedro Almodovar explores this but with a different feeling and direction.

Ingrid is at a book signing when a friend approaches and tells her that Martha is fighting a virulent cancer and it would be a good idea to get in touch with her old friend. She does and the two get together, rekindling their long-dormant friendship.

As they get to know each other again, Martha confesses that she is dying and is having a hard time dealing with the suffering she is going through. Then, she makes a request that may go beyond the bounds of their friendship. Will Ingrid help her with her suicide?

Now, this is a pretty tough subject and Almodovar deals with it in an honest and real manner. Ingrid is, at first, very reluctant to accept the responsibility of helping with Martha's suicide but her caring for her friend takes precedence. She agrees to be there for her Martha to the end.

But, this friendship is just the tip of the “assisted” suicide controversy. The legal ramifications of even having knowledge of a suicide are explored from Ingrid’s point of view. Is she liable for her friend’s death just because she knew of Martha’s plan? There is a lot of food for thought, especially as death becomes more and more prominent in my own life.

It is always a pleasure watching two great actors play off of each other and Moore and Swinton do not disappoint. This is Almodovar’s first English language film and I do not think the director is yet comfortable with the language. At times, I felt I was watching two performances filmed separately when the actors were not in the frame together. It is a fascinating subject handled in a pedestrian way.

Sony Pictures Classics released "The Room Next Door" in select theaters on 12/20/24, expanding into the New Year.