The Oscars will surely knock on Pedro Almodóvar’s door this awards season. Pedro Almodóvar’s expansive filmography has shaped international cinema for over four decades. With his English-language directorial debut, “The Room Next Door,” , the Spanish auteur and distributor Sony Pictures Classics are setting their sights on landing Almodóvar’s first best picture nomination.
Adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s novel “What Are You Going Through,” the film follows two women — war correspondent Martha (Tilda Swinton) and author Ingrid (Julianne Moore) — who reunite after years apart under challenging circumstances. Almodóvar’s body of work has garnered widespread acclaim within the Academy. “All About My Mother” (1999) won the Oscar for international feature, while “Talk to Her” (2002) earned him two noms for directing and original screenplay, the latter of which he won.
Additionally, his 1988 black comedy “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” received a nomination for Spain in the international feature category. It would be Oscar punditry malpractice to overlook the international legend as a strong contender for best director and adapted screenplay. Produced by Esther García and Agustín Almodóvar, the film also stands a solid chance of securing a best picture nomination.
However, longtime Almodóvar fans may resonate most with the film’s melodramatic beats and signature style, which could feel unfamiliar to new viewers. Nevertheles.