Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore Dazzle in Venice as Pedro Almodóvar’s ‘The Room Next Door’ Earns 17-Minute Standing Ovation

As a lifelong cinephile, I have been fortunate enough to witness some truly magical moments at the silver screen, but none quite compare to the electric atmosphere that enveloped Venice Film Festival’s Sala Grande during the world premiere of Pedro Almodóvar’s latest masterpiece, “The Room Next Door.” The seventeen-minute standing ovation for this poignant English-language debut left me in awe, and I couldn’t help but feel as if I was part of cinematic history.

Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, and Pedro Almodóvar are quite impressive – as suggested by the response they received at the Venice Film Festival.

On Monday evening, within the grand hall of the Venice Film Festival, a threesome basked in the enthusiastic cheers, as Almodóvar’s inaugural English-language film was met with a prolonged, passionate 17-minute standing ovation during its world premiere.

The moving movie titled “The Room Next Door” is based on Sigrid Nunez’s novel “What Are You Going Through“. This film narrates the story of Ingrid (Moore), a renowned writer, and Martha (Swinton), who were once close friends but lost touch. As they reconnect, they delve into their shared past, exchanging stories, discussing art, and watching movies. Struggling with terminal cervical cancer, Martha wishes for a peaceful end and requests Ingrid to be in an adjoining room when she takes her euthanasia pill.

During a press conference for the latest movie, held earlier today, renowned Spanish director – famous for movies like “Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” and “All About My Mother” – spoke about the film’s stance on euthanasia. He openly expressed that the movie advocates for this practice, stating, “This movie supports euthanasia.”

“I deeply respect Tilda’s character for her determination in fighting cancer. She firmly believes that she must make a crucial decision to overcome it… ‘If I can reach it first, cancer won’t triumph over me,’ she declares. And so, with her friend by her side, she embarks on a journey that requires them to act covertly, as if they were evading the law.” He further expressed his viewpoint: “It would be ideal if euthanasia were an option globally, giving individuals like Tilda the right to decide their own fate when faced with such challenging circumstances.”

Swinton and Moore, without a doubt, are ardent admirers of this filmmaker, and during their stay in Venice, they’ve been openly expressing their admiration for him. Moore even expressed that she can’t think of any director worldwide who could have crafted a more exceptional film about female camaraderie.

“Pedro’s perspective on this relationship is that while we commonly encounter a mother-daughter narrative in books and movies, what makes it unique is the focus on female friendship, particularly between women of advanced age, as such stories are seldom found,” Moore pointed out.

Speaking as an ardent admirer, I can’t help but express that it’s hard to imagine another filmmaker like her, who would pull off such a unique touch. The bond between us, she and I, was palpable during our pre-interview photo session, making her words all the more heartfelt.

Swinton further praised Almodóvar’s directorial skills, sharing that years ago she had expressed her eagerness to collaborate with him: “At one point when I was near him, I declared: ‘I’ll learn Spanish just for you. It doesn’t matter.’… He remains the master who consistently delivers for this film. To witness the vitality and unwavering dedication he brings is inspiring, and even now, I still feel like a pupil watching his debut work.”

The movie titled “The Room Next Door” is set to make its first public appearance at the Venice International Film Festival on Monday evening, followed by its American debut as the main feature at the 2024 New York Film Festival on October 4th.

The movie will open in theaters Dec. 20 after being scooped up by Sony Pictures Classics.

2024-09-02 22:54

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