The Venice Film Festival has crowned The Room Next Door with its coveted Golden Lion for Best Film, celebrating a poignant and thought-provoking feature directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film, which stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, garnered widespread acclaim and an impressive 18-minute standing ovation at its premiere—a testament to its emotional impact.
Accepting the prestigious award, Almodóvar, 74, spoke passionately about the film’s core message. “I believe that saying goodbye to this world cleanly and with dignity is a fundamental right of every human being,” he declared. The Spanish director, known for his eloquent storytelling, emphasized that euthanasia should be recognized globally as a fundamental human right, not just a political issue.
In The Room Next Door, Swinton portrays a war correspondent facing terminal cancer, who seeks the support of her old friend, played by Moore, as she chooses to end her life. Almodóvar expressed his gratitude to the lead actresses, saying, “This award really belongs to them. It’s a film about two women, and those two women are Julianne and Tilda.”
The film’s sensitive handling of complex themes earned praise from the jury president, French actress Isabelle Huppert, who lauded its thoughtful approach without melodrama. The Room Next Door is expected to be a major contender in the upcoming awards season.
In other festival highlights, Nicole Kidman won Best Actress for her role in Babygirl, where she portrays a CEO navigating a tumultuous affair with a younger intern. Kidman, who was in Venice for the film’s premiere, did not attend the awards ceremony due to the passing of her mother. A statement read on her behalf conveyed her deep sorrow and dedication of the award to her late mother.
French actor Vincent Lindon took home Best Actor for his performance in The Quiet Son, a film exploring the effects of extreme-right radicalism on a family. Meanwhile, Brady Corbet won Best Director for The Brutalist, a story about a Hungarian architect and Holocaust survivor rebuilding his life in the US, starring Adrien Brody.
Notably, Queer, featuring Daniel Craig as a gay drug addict, and the Maria Callas biopic Maria, with Angelina Jolie as the legendary soprano, did not receive awards.
The 81st Venice Film Festival has set the stage for an exciting awards season ahead.
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