The Room Next Door (2024)

Ingrid doesn't hesitate to visit when she hears that Martha is quite ill. Even though it's clear they've been out of each other's lives for quite some time, their reunion had a familial, easy energy and they're soon calling each other daily. When Martha makes up her mind that she is ready to leave her sick body, she makes a huge ask of Ingrid: accompany her on a trip, during which Martha plans to end her life.

I'm a fan of Almodovar. He's got a fantastic sense of style and never shies away from the complicated sides of life. Though the vibe is slightly different here -- I think simply for the fact that this is in English rather than Spanish -- it still delivers. Moore and Swinton are so believable and the script, somehow, doesn't dip into the maudlin. This is a friend showing up for another in an extreme circumstance.

My one issue is the ending: there's a cop on the case who is suspicious. Though we just get one scene with him, it seems like the beginning of something that just doesn't happen, which makes the film feel incomplete.

B