Tilda Swinton Confirms She Has Never Been Afraid to Die

As a seasoned film enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of cinema through the decades, I must confess that Pedro Almódovar’s The Room Next Door has left me deeply moved and profoundly inspired. Tilda Swinton‘s fearless embrace of mortality resonates with me, having traversed the silver screen for close to four decades. Her acceptance of the inevitable is as captivating on-screen as it is off, much like a moth drawn to the flicker of the projector’s light.

At a formal press conference during the Venice Film Festival for Pedro Almódovar’s “The Room Next Door”, Tilda Swinton admitted what many had suspected for a while: she faces the prospect of the inevitable void that awaits all mortals without fear.

Swinton shared that she has never feared death and this has been the case for a long time. Through some life experiences, she gained awareness about its inevitability. She feels, senses, and sees it approaching.

In an unexpected yet fitting remark, Swinton’s comment alluded to the movie “The Room Next Door”. This film narrates the story of two old friends, portrayed by Swinton and Julianne Moore. When Swinton’s character is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she decides to end her life on her own terms. Swinton described it as a depiction of self-determination, where an individual takes charge of both their living and dying, and labeled it as a triumph.

In a career spanning four decades within the Spanish-speaking film industry, Almódovar’s new work is his debut English-language production. When queried about why he decided to take on an English project at “almost 75”, the director humorously replied, “Not quite yet!” (He will still be 74 for another three weeks.) Similar to his leading actor, Almódovar shared that this film aided him in grappling with his own thoughts about mortality. “I can’t comprehend that something that is alive must perish,” he stated. “My sentiment is that each day that passes is one less day I have. And I wouldn’t like to just feel that it was another day I survived.”

Switching to Spanish, Almódovar delivered a passionate and wide-ranging polical speech, denouncing the Spanish opposition’s proposal to block immigrants from arriving into the country by boat, and calling on audiences to reject climate-change denial. He also spoke unambiguously about his film’s theme. “This movie is in favor of euthanasia,” he said, to a round of applause from the audience. “We have a law in Spain [legalizing] euthanasia. There should be the possibility to have euthanasia all over the world.”

Working in English felt like attempting a new genre to Almódovar, such as science fiction – something he’d long desired to explore, but needed the perfect opportunity. (Prior to The Room Next Door, he had also made two short films in English, one featuring Swinton.) He discovered this opportunity within Sigrid Nunez’s 2020 novel, What Are You Going Through? “These were New York women, and they represented the generation I’m familiar with, from the mid-80s,” he said, to laughter. He admitted that he anticipated facing more challenges on the film than he actually did. “The language barrier was initially awkward, but both actors grasped the tone I aimed for in this story perfectly – more traditional, more austere, emotional yet devoid of melodrama altogether.”

If they resonated with him, it was likely because the initial English-speaking heroines of Almódovar had been avid admirers for a long time. “As an American — and I’ll admit this might sound awkward — I felt there was something about him that was deeply Spanish,” Moore stated. “What I didn’t grasp at first was, it’s simply Pedro. It’s all Pedro.” She recalled her initial visit to his apartment. “Every item, every color: I thought Oh my goodness, it’s all here. There’s so much of him in everything he creates.”

Swinton initially encountered Almódovar’s work back in the ’80s, during her collaboration with Derek Jarman on Britain’s New Queer Cinema. She remarked, “He occupied a remarkably similar sphere as we did.” Upon first sight, we all felt, “Ah, there’s a relative in Madrid, and we are acknowledging you!” He was the embodiment of an immense cultural shift.

She reminisced about persuading the director to cast her in one of his movies by saying, “On one occasion when we were both present, I boldly told him, ‘I’ll learn Spanish for the role, I’ll be silent. It doesn’t matter to me.’ He merely chuckled gently, and I thought, At least I expressed my desire. Getting that opportunity was a sign of favor, she admitted, adding, “He has remained the great director he’s always been.”

And yet his inner child remained alive and well, Swinton said, “He is seven and a half. Not 74.”

2024-09-02 20:54

Tilda Swinton Confirms She Has Never Been Afraid to Die

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