When Pedro Almodóvar’s philosophical drama The Room Next Door made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 2, headlines in publications ranging from People to The Independent focused on the length of its post-screening standing ovation — a whopping 17.5 minutes, the longest ever recorded at the gathering.
Surely, this enthusiastic reception means the Julianne Moore-Tilda Swinton picture is bound for 2025 Oscar glory, right?
Not so fast.