Pedro Almodovar's 'The Room Next Door' Shines at Venice Film Festival

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's first English-film, 'The Room Next Door', clinched the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Addressing euthanasia and climate change, the film stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, and received an 18-minute standing ovation. Almodovar previously won an Oscar for 'All About My Mother'.

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's first English-language movie, 'The Room Next Door,' which addresses the weighty themes of euthanasia and climate change, won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. The film, featuring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, garnered an 18-minute standing ovation at its Venice premiere.

Almodovar, a celebrated figure on the festival circuit, was recognized with a lifetime achievement award in Venice in 2019 for his bold Spanish-language films. He won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1999 for 'All About My Mother'. Now at 74, Almodovar explores life, death, and friendship in his English debut.

After accepting his prize, Almodovar underscored his stance on euthanasia, emphasizing it should be free of political and religious constraints. 'Saying goodbye to this world with dignity is a fundamental human right,' he stated in Spanish. He praised Swinton and Moore, noting, 'This award truly belongs to them.'

(With inputs from agencies.)