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Pedro Almodóvar’s eagerly awaited new film, The Room Next Door, starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, will arrive in theaters in the United States later this winter (with a limited theatrical release in Los Angeles and New York on December 20, followed by a broader release in January 2025). This follows its enormously successful reception at the Venice Film Festival where it won this year’s Golden Lion. The director once again floods the screen with his signature saturated colors to tell the story of Martha (Swinton), a war reporter and mother with a stormy relationship with her daughter, and Ingrid (Moore), a writer and old friend, all accompanied by an Alberto Iglesias soundtrack. To mark the premiere of his new work, we decide to revisit some of the highlights of his filmography looking for inspiration to introduce into some of the director’s exuberant and playful style into our homes.
High Heels (1991)
The reunion between a mother and daughter, a murder, and an unforgettable performance by Femme Letal (a drag performer played by Miguel Bosé) at Villa Rosa, a legendary Madrid flamenco venue are all key moments in this early Almodóvar film. The plot of High Heels has a perfect mix of elements, and the cinematography, vibrant colors, and its sense of postmodern luxury were also key to the film’s success. Here are some items for your home that embody the energy of the film.
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Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
The apartment where Pepa (played by Carmen Maura) lives has almost as important of a role in the plot of this film as the sleeping-pill-laced gazpacho, another of the movie’s protagonists. Design pieces such as Marcel Breuer’s Wassily chair coexist in harmony with the ducks, chickens, and rabbits that populate one of the most iconic terraces of Spanish cinema.
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All About My Mother (1999)
In All About My Mother, Almodóvar swapped Madrid for Barcelona to tell the heartbreaking story of Manuela (played by Cecilia Roth) and the change of scenery turned out well for the director. In addition to winning an Oscar, he turned ‘70s wallpaper into a must in our living rooms.
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The Skin I Live In (2011)
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Pedro Almodóvar makes a number of references to the history of cinema in this film including to the works of director Luis Buñuel, the legendary Hammer Film Productions, and the Italian master of horror Dario Argento. All of these allusions are incorporated into a plot about the efforts of Dr. Robert Ledgard (played by Antonio Banderas) to create a new artificial but sensitive skin which he tests on Vera (Elena Anaya).
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And two more classics
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While these last two items weren’t chosen because they reflect the aesthetic of any particular Pedro Almodóvar film, they share the colorful and retro flair that characterizes so much of the director’s work.
This interview was originally published by AD Spain. It was translated by John Newton.
