The Room Next Door Explained

Director:Pedro Almodóvar
Cinematography:Edu Grau
Editing:Teresa Font
Music:Alberto Iglesias
Distributor:Warner Bros. Pictures
Studio:El Deseo
Runtime:106 minutes
Country:Spain
Language:English
Gross:$5.6 million[1] [2]

The Room Next Door (es|'''La habitación de al lado'''|links=no) is a 2024 Spanish drama film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar in his English-language full-length debut, based on the novel What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez. Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore star, with John Turturro and Alessandro Nivola in supporting roles.

The film premiered on 2 September 2024 at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded with the Golden Lion, a first for a Spanish film.[3] It was released theatrically in Spain on 18 October 2024, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is scheduled for a limited release in the United States on 20 December 2024 by Sony Pictures Classics.

Synopsis

Ingrid and Martha were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme, but strangely sweet, situation.[4] [5]

Production

Almodóvar talked about plans to shoot an English-language film set in New York City on the eve of his trip to the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.[6] The title The Room Next Door was advertised in late 2023.[7] In January 2024, El Deseo announced that Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton had been cast in the lead roles, with John Turturro as another cast member.[8] Swinton described the film as "a natural successor, strangely, to Pain and Glory".[9] The film is an El Deseo production with the participation of Movistar Plus+.[10] Filming began on 3 March 2024 in Madrid.[11] Alessandro Nivola joined the cast that same month.[12] Shooting locations also included New York City.[13] On 12 June 2024, Juan Diego Botto, Raúl Arévalo, Melina Matthews, and Victoria Luengo were announced as additional cast members.[14] Edu Grau was the film's cinematographer.[15]

Release

In advance of the start of production, Almodóvar's recurring North American distributor Sony Pictures Classics picked up rights to the film in North America, the Middle East, India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.[16]

The film was released in cinemas in Spain on 18 October 2024 by Warner Bros. Pictures.[17] [18] Warner Bros. also acquired distribution rights for the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe (excluding Poland), Latin America and some territories in Asia-Pacific, including Japan.[19] It will be made available on Movistar Plus+ in Spain after its theatrical window.[20]

In July 2024, the film was reportedly likely to premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival;[21] this was confirmed a week later, with the film announced to be premiering in competition.[22] Alberto Barbera reported that the film was premiering during the festival's second half.[23] The film was also selected for screenings at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (for its North American premiere),[24] and the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival (as a 'Donostia Award' screening),[25] as well as for the Centerpiece selection of the 62nd New York Film Festival at the Alice Tully Hall on 4 October 2024 (for its U.S. premiere).[26]

The film will have its South Asia premiere at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 on 19 October 2024, under the World Cinema section.[27]

It is scheduled to open in New York City and Los Angeles on 20 December 2024 by Sony Pictures Classics, followed by a limited release in select US cities on Christmas Day, and a January 2025 wide US release.[28]

Reception

Critical response

Stephanie Zacharek of Time wrote that "if it's possible to make a joyful movie about death, Almodóvar has just done it".[29]

Owen Gleiberman of Variety assessed that Swinton "gives a monumental performance", "worthy of comparison to the spirit and virtuosity of Vanessa Redgrave".[30]

Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph lamented that the result of Almodóvar's anglophone feature debut is "depressingly thin".[31]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, finding it "as extravagant and engrossing and doggedly mysterious as anything [Almodóvar] has done recently".[32] Also reviewing for The Guardian, Wendy Ide rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, describing it as feeling "emotionally empty".[33]

Accolades

AwardCeremony dateCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Venice International Film Festival7 September 2024Golden LionThe Room Next Door[34]
Brian Award[35] [36]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards20 November 2024Best Original Score – Independent FilmAlberto Iglesias[37]
European Film Awards7 December 2024Best European FilmThe Room Next Door[38] [39]
Best European DirectorPedro Almodóvar
Best European Screenwriter
Best European ActressTilda Swinton
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards11 January 2025Best DirectorPedro Almodóvar[40]
Feroz AwardsThe Room Next Door
Pedro Almodóvar
Best Film Poster Juan Gatti, Nico Bustos
Alberto Leal
Best Original SoundtrackAlberto Iglesias

See also

Notes and References

  1. Room Next Door, The . Room-Next-Door-The-(2024-Spain) . November 1, 2024.
  2. 29439114. The Room Next Door. October 30, 2024.
  3. Web site: . 2024-09-07 . 'La habitación de al lado' de Almodóvar, primera película española en ganar el León de Oro . 2024-09-11 . . es.
  4. Web site: The Room Next Door - Cast IMDbPro . 2024-10-14 . pro.imdb.com.
  5. Web site: Gleiberman . Owen . 2024-09-02 . 'The Room Next Door' Review: Tilda Swinton Gives a Monumental Performance as a Woman Confronting Death in Pedro Almodóvar's First English-Language Drama . 2024-10-14 . Variety . en-US.
  6. Web site: Pedro Almodóvar will shoot his first English-language feature film in New York City. El País. 17 May 2023. Gregorio. Belinchón.
  7. Web site: El primer largometraje en inglés de Pedro Almodóvar se ambientará en Nueva York. Cinemanía. 20minutos.es. 6 October 2023.
  8. Web site: Heraldo de Aragón. 25 January 2024. Swinton y Moore serán protagonistas del primer largometraje en inglés de Almodóvar.
  9. Web site: IndieWire. 28 February 2024. Ryan. Lattanzio. Tilda Swinton Says Pedro Almodóvar's 'Room Next Door' Is a 'Natural Successor' to 'Pain and Glory'.
  10. Web site: 'La habitación de al lado' de Pedro Almodóvar se verá en exclusiva en Movistar Plus+ tras su paso por los cines. Audiovisual451. 25 March 2024.
  11. Web site: Bajo . Jordan . 8 March 2024 . The Room Next Door: que nous réserve le prochain film de Pedro Almodóvar avec Julianne Moore et Tilda Swinton . The Room Next Door: what does Pedro Almodóvar's next film with Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton have in store for us? . 26 March 2024 . . Fr.
  12. Web site: Kroll . Justin . 2024-03-18 . Alessandro Nivola Joins Pedro Almodóvar's Next Film 'The Room Next Door' . 2024-04-09 . Deadline . en-US.
  13. Web site: 'The Room Next Door' First Look: Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton Are Pedro Almodóvar's New Muses. IndieWire. Lattanzio. Ryan. 23 July 2024.
  14. Web site: La Tercera. La Habitación de Al Lado: todo lo que sabemos de la nueva película de Pedro Almodóvar. Pablo. Retamal N.. 13 June 2024.
  15. Web site: Camera and Light Mag. La nueva película de Pedro Almodóvar, 'La habitación de al lado', se estrenará en octubre. 14 June 2024.
  16. Web site: 1 February 2024. Sony Pictures Classics Releasing Pedro Almodovar's 'The Room Next Door,' Starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. Variety. Brent. Lang.
  17. Web site: John Turturro explica cómo lo nuevo de Almodóvar le hace recordar un trágico momento de su vida: "no se supera por completo". HobbyConsolas. José Carlos. Pozo. 23 October 2024.
  18. Web site: 'La habitación de al lado', de Almodóvar: fecha de estreno, reparto y todo sobre su primera película en inglés. Cinemanía. 12 June 2024. Daniel de. Partearroyo. 20minutos.es.
  19. Web site: 12 June 2024. Nancy. Tartaglione. Warner Bros Acquires Pedro Almodóvar's 'The Room Next Door' In Spain, UK, Germany & Other Key Overseas Markets. Deadline Hollywood.
  20. Web site: Una única plataforma acogerá el estreno de la primera película de Almodóvar grabada íntegramente en inglés: estreno en cines y dónde verla 'online'. El Confidencial. 25 March 2024. Marina. Velasco.
  21. Web site: Pedro Almodóvar's 'The Room Next Door,' Starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, Eyeing Venice Film Festival Debut. Variety. Nick. Vivarelli. Elsa. Keslassy. 16 July 2024. 16 July 2024.
  22. Web site: 2024-07-09 . Biennale Cinema 2024 The room next door . 2024-07-23 . La Biennale di Venezia . en.
  23. Web site: Venice Festival Chief Alberto Barbera Says 'Joker 2' Is "One Of The Most Daring Films In Recent American Cinema" & Daniel Craig Gives "The Performance Of His Career" In 'Queer' – The Deadline Q&A. Deadline Hollywood. Andreas. Wiseman. 23 July 2024.
  24. Web site: Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis,' Pedro Almodovar's 'The Room Next Door' Added to Toronto Film Festival Lineup. The Wrap. Steven. Pond. 13 August 2024.
  25. Web site: Pedro Almodóvar to Receive 2024 San Sebastian Donostia Career Achievement Award. Variety. 14 August 2024. Jamie. Lang.
  26. Web site: US premiere of Pedro Almodóvar's 'The Room Next Door' named NYFF centrepiece. ScreenDaily. 1 August 2024. Jeremy. Kay.
  27. Web site: The Room Next Door . 12 October 2024 . MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
  28. Web site: 'The Room Next Door' Teaser: First Look At Pedro Almodóvar's Feature English-Language Debut Starring Julianne Moore & Tilda Swinton + Release Date Set. Deadline Hollywood. 30 August 2024. Zac. Ntim.
  29. 2 September 2024. Pedro Almodóvar's The Room Next Door Finds Joy Even as It Stares Down Death. Stephanie. Zacharek. Stephanie Zacharek. Time.
  30. Web site: 'The Room Next Door' Review: Tilda Swinton Gives a Monumental Performance as a Woman Confronting Death in Pedro Almodóvar's First English-Language Drama. Owen Gleiberman. Owen. Gleiberman. 2 September 2024. Variety.
  31. Web site: Robbie Collin. Robbie. Collin. The Room Next Door: Almodóvar's English-language debut is a clunky disappointment. 2 September 2024. The Daily Telegraph.
  32. Web site: Peter Bradshaw. Peter. Bradshaw. 23 October 2024. The Guardian. The Room Next Door review – Almodóvar’s English-language debut is extravagant and engrossing.
  33. Web site: Wendy. Ide. The Room Next Door review – Almodóvar’s stylish end-of-life drama feels emotionally empty. The Guardian. 25 October 2025.
  34. Web site: Variety. Pedro Almodóvar's 'The Room Next Door' Wins Venice Golden Lion as Nicole Kidman Takes Best Actress — Full Winners List. 7 September 2024. Jessica. Kiang.
  35. News: VENEZIA 81 - Il Premio Brian a "The Room Next Door" di Pedro Almodovar . 6 September 2024.
  36. News: Mostra del Cinema di Venezia: il Premio Brian 2024 a "The Room Next Door" di Pedro Almodovar. 7 September 2024.
  37. Web site: Hans Zimmer & ‘Emilia Pérez’ Lead 2024 Hollywood Music In Media Awards Winners. Deadline Hollywood. 20 November 2024. Erik. Pedersen.
  38. Shafer. Ellise. 5 November 2024. European Film Awards Nominations: ‘Emilia Pérez,’ ‘The Substance,’ ‘The Room Next Door’ and More Up for Best Film. Variety. 5 November 2024.
  39. Web site: Nominations 2024 . 5 November 2024 . . en-US.
  40. Web site: Lewis . Hilary . 2024-11-20 . Movies for Grownups Awards: ‘Conclave’ Leads With 6 Nominations . 2024-11-22 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.

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