In Pedro Almodóvar’s new movie Julianne Moore plays Ingrid a writer who reconnects with Martha (played by Tilda Swinton) a former colleague. Martha has cancer and there’s no hope for her to live more than a few months. She has acquired a euthanasia pill and wants to go out on her own terms and asks if Ingrid is willing to be in “the room next door”. After some trepidation Ingrid agrees and the two go on vacation together. As they reconnect and prep for Martha’s end, Martha recounts stories from her life.
Despite most scenes just being Ingrid and Martha in a room together it’s an effective film. Moore and Swinton are captivating enough actors that just seeing them talk is interesting.
It’s also an effective argument for the right-to-die without ever being heavy handed or preachy about it.
The ending comes abruptly and it leaves things unresolved. But perhaps that’s just like death – we can’t predict it and there will always be things unfinished.