A still from ‘The Room Next Door’
| Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Classics
Pedro Almodóvar’s highly anticipated English-language debut, The Room Next Door, has been unveiled with a first-look teaser from Sony Pictures Classics. The film, starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, is set to make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival this month before heading to the New York Film Festival for its U.S. debut.
The Room Next Door tells the story of Ingrid, portrayed by Moore, a best-selling author who reconnects with her old friend Martha, a war journalist played by Swinton. As the two women delve into their shared past, Martha makes a request that challenges their deepening bond. The cast also includes John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola, and Juan Diego Botto, adding depth to the film’s exploration of complex relationships.
The movie tackles themes of war’s relentless cruelty and the contrasting ways Ingrid and Martha, both writers, confront reality, death, friendship, and sexual pleasure—elements that serve as their weapons against the horrors they face. The film is said to capture a “sweet awakening,” set against the serene backdrop of a house in a New England nature reserve where the two women find themselves in an intense and oddly tender situation.
Warner Bros Pictures has secured distribution rights for The Room Next Door across several key international markets, including Almodóvar’s native Spain, the UK, Germany, Italy, and various regions in Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
Produced by Almodóvar’s El Deseo, the film was shot across locations in Madrid and New York, with the backing of Movistar Plus+. This marks Almodóvar’s first feature-length project since his 2021 film Parallel Mothers, which also premiered at Venice and garnered Penelope Cruz the Best Actress Volpi Cup.
