Tilda Swinton recently made an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to discuss her latest film, “The Room Next Door.” Directed by Pedro Alova, this film marks Alova’s first English feature.
In the interview, Swinton provided some insight into the film, describing it as a story about a woman named Martha, who is a war correspondent and is facing stage four terminal cancer. Martha decides that she wants to take control of her own fate and face her imminent end on her own terms, asking her friend, played by Julian Moore, to be with her in the room next door.
While the film tackles the heavy subject of death, Swinton emphasized that it is not a gloomy tale. In fact, she believes it is truly uplifting and explores the idea of truly living, even in the face of death. Swinton raises an interesting point about society’s reluctance to talk about death and grief, considering it a waste.
Swinton believes that accepting death as an inevitable part of life allows us to live more fully. She mentioned a moment in the film where Martha says, “I think I deserve a good death,” which Swinton interpreted as a powerful statement that applies to all individuals. We all deserve a good death and have the right to plan for it.
When asked about her own idea of a happy death, Swinton shared a thoughtful response. She envisioned being surrounded by her children and loved ones, with her sweethearts and dogs around her, and simply evaporating. Although she doesn’t know if death actually feels that way, she hopes that it resembles the feeling of evaporating towards the light.
Swinton also touched on the importance of not looking away from death. In the film, both Martha and her friend confront death head-on, refusing to be frightened by it. Swinton emphasized the value of being there for loved ones who are facing the end, by providing support and being a witness to their journey. By not looking away, we can find the strength to live fully, as death itself is not interesting – it’s all about living.
“The Room Next Door” is currently playing in select theaters and will be available nationwide on January 17th. Swinton’s appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” not only highlighted her new film but also sparked an important conversation about embracing the inevitability of death and the power of living life to the fullest.
