A night to remember: Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton dazzle at Venice Film Festival
A standing ovation for ‘The Room Next Door’
The Venice Film Festival witnessed an unforgettable moment on Monday night with the premiere of Pedro Almodóvar‘s latest masterpiece, The Room Next Door. The film, starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, received a remarkable 17-minute standing ovation, the longest of the 2024 edition so far.
As the film concluded, Almodóvar, the celebrated Spanish director, shared a heartfelt moment with his leading ladies. He kissed their cheeks and raised their arms triumphantly, reminiscent of victorious boxers. The trio then descended the stairs, extending the ovation by engaging with fans in the theater. Swinton, dazzling in a white sparkling suit, embraced Moore, who shone in a gold shimmering gown. Moore appeared emotional as Almodóvar, dressed in a cotton-candy pink suit, basked in the applause, with the crowd chanting, “Pedro! Pedro! Pedro!”
A personal touch from Almodóvar
Almodóvar’s connection with his audience was palpable. He waved to fans individually in the Sala Grande theater, making the ovation the festival’s most significant so far. Moore, clutching his arm, beamed with pride. As the applause continued, Almodóvar extended the moment by running back down the stairs to sign autographs and take selfies with fans. Moore and Swinton shared a laugh, trying to determine the right moment to exit the theater.
The story behind ‘The Room Next Door’
Marking Almodóvar’s first English-language feature, The Room Next Door stars Moore and Swinton as Ingrid and Martha, respectively. The film explores the lives of two women who were close friends in their youth while working at the same magazine. Ingrid becomes an autofiction novelist, while Martha pursues a career as a war reporter. Life’s circumstances separate them, but they reunite in an extreme yet strangely sweet situation. For more details, check out the trailer.
Julianne Moore: A Venice Film Festival veteran
Julianne Moore has been a familiar face at the Venice Film Festival over the years. Her notable appearances include Robert Altman’s 1993 drama Short Cuts, which won the best ensemble award; Todd Haynes’ 2002 film Far From Heaven, for which she won Venice’s best actress prize; Tom Ford’s 2009 directorial debut A Single Man; George Clooney’s 2017 directorial effort Suburbicon; and serving as jury president in 2022.
Tilda Swinton’s illustrious Venice history
Tilda Swinton is no stranger to accolades at Venice either. She won the best actress award in 1991 for her performance in Edward II. Swinton also attended the festival alongside Moore in 2009 for Luca Guadagnino’s romantic drama I Am Love. In 2020, she received the festival’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
Almodóvar’s legacy at Venice
The Room Next Door follows Almodóvar’s 2021 film Parallel Mothers, which also premiered at Venice and earned Penelope Cruz the best actress Volpi Cup. Almodóvar’s history with the festival includes premieres of Dark Habits (1983), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), which won the best screenplay award, and his 2020 short film The Human Voice starring Swinton. He received the festival’s lifetime achievement award in 2019.
What’s next for ‘The Room Next Door’?
After its triumphant Venice premiere, The Room Next Door is set to open in theaters on December 20, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. This highly anticipated release promises to be a significant event for cinema enthusiasts worldwide.
For those eager to dive deeper into the world of The Room Next Door, the trailer offers a glimpse into the film’s captivating narrative and stellar performances.
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