I was honestly excited to get to see this film, mostly because of the people involved in telling the story. I’ve enjoyed Pedro Almodóvar’s work on prior films. In addition, we have Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, both powerhouse performers. The film explores some very thought provoking ideas with excellent performances but the story was slower than expected and failed to keep me engaged despite the genuine connection developed between the characters.

“The Room Next Door” is a drama film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar based on the novel ‘What Are You Going Through?’ by Sigrid Nunez. In the film, two old friends, Ingrid (Julianne Moore) and Martha (Tilda Swinton). Both women were close when they worked for the same magazine as writers but have drifted apart over the years, Martha becoming a war correspondent and Ingrid becoming an author. After years apart, they reconnect as Ingrid learns Martha is dealing with a cancer diagnosis. They share deep and meaningful moments together as Martha asks Ingrid to aid her in ending her own life. Ingrid supports her on her journey as they move to a small house in the countryside. The experience leads to conversation over the choice but also leaves Ingrid with memories of their connection. 

The writing in this film is very character driven, very philosophical as it asks questions about cancer, about the experience of fighting it and raises questions about the morality behind expecting patients to endure exhausting treatment. If the patient lives, they could end up with a lasting impact on their health and if they don’t, they have failed in the eyes of the public. The film raises some valid thoughts about euthanasia and how painful cancer treatment really is, how much the fight is worth. I also like the attitude of Ingrid, in that she doesn’t pretend to be entirely strong enough for Martha but still ends up assisting her. I love the line “This world is absurd and inhumane.” It aptly sums up the philosophical meanderings of the film.

In the deep moments between Ingrid and Martha, there is a sweetness and a connection that is palpable even when the pair disagree about the steps forward. Ultimately, Ingrid supports Martha on her journey even though it is difficult for her to grasp all of her friend’s choices. That willingness to support another, to help Martha feel joy even at the end of her days is what makes the film beautiful. There are some lovely nuances especially in the interactions between the two women as they discuss the past, present and future, creating memories for Ingrid to carry with her.

The performances are excellent but there really was little chance that Julianne Moore or Tilda Swinton would not be good. Their performances were nuanced, subtle and the connection between them simmered with years of friendship. There are moments between them that are beautiful and expressive, even joyful, especially in one of the scenes where they watch films into the night. The thoughtful discussion between the two characters is what makes this film as good as it is and drives the story.

Despite the excellent performances, I did find the story quite slow and it failed to engage me in the story. While the emotion between the two actresses felt real and authentic, the story was not riveting and was too focused on the underlying philosophical questions. It had some rough transitions between scenes, especially as Martha discusses the past. It is hard to tell what time period it is in those moments and the lack of transitions threw me out of the film. There were moments even the conversations seemed stilted if it wasn’t between Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. 

If you like philosophical films that are thoughtful and excellent performances with two brilliant actresses, I still suggest you check this out. There are likely nuances I may have missed but I did find it failed to captivate me as much as I wanted it to do so. While I loved the emotional connection between Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton in their roles, the story failed to keep me engaged and I didn’t love it as much as I wanted. 

Rating: 3 out of 5 pills 

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