The Room Next Door (2024)
Oscar-winning actresses Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton bring heart and soul to Pedro Almodóvar’s latest film, The Room Next Door, which marks the multi-awarded Spanish director’s first English-language feature.
Based on Sigrid Nunez’s novel What Are You Going Through, the film explores the complex bond between two women, friends since their teenage years. After decades apart, a chance encounter reunites them under difficult circumstances. Martha (Swinton), a former war correspondent, is battling cancer, and Ingrid (Moore), a successful author, steps in to support her when Martha asks for help.
The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion, and has since garnered critical acclaim, with strong potential for Oscar recognition.
During the press conference ahead of the film’s premiere Almodóvar shared, “The Room Next Door is in favor of euthanasia,” advocating for its global legalization: “There should be the possibility to have euthanasia all over the world. It should be regulated, and a doctor should be allowed to help his patient.” Euthanasia became legal in Spain in 2021, making it one of 11 countries where assisted dying is lawful.
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola
Language: English
IMDB rating: 7/10
Production country: Spain
Where to watch: Cinobo Opera, Mikrokosmos, Athinaion, Aigli 3D digital, Cinemax (Nirvana, Aello, Nana, Kifissia), Diana, Village cinemas (The Mall, Pangrati, Metro Mall, Rentis), Tria Asteria 3D digital, Sporting digital cinema, Anoixi Art cinema, Foivos digital cinema, WestCity cinema, Municipal cinema Cineac, Options Cinemas (Glyfada, Ilion)
Gladiator 2
A legendary director in the sci-fi genre, Ridley Scott returns to the big screen with Gladiator 2, a screenplay by David Scarpa (Napoleon, 2023).
Set 24 years after the five-time Oscar-winning Gladiator (2000), the sequel follows Lucius (Paul Mescal), who, inspired by his father figure Maximus, becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman army under General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Seeking revenge against Acacius, Lucius allies with Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave turned gladiator trainer, who plans to overthrow the corrupt emperors Geta and Caracalla.
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington
Language: English
IMDB rating: 7.1/10
Production countries: United States, United Kingdom
Where to watch: Elli, Athinaion, Aigli 3D digital, Cinemax (Nirvana, Aello, Nana, Kifissia), Tria Asteria 3D digital, Sporting digital cinema, Anoixi Art cinema, Lampros Konstantaras movie theater, Foivos digital cinema, WestCity cinema, Zea cinema, Village cinemas (The Mall, Pangrati, Metro Mall, Rentis)
Ashik Kerib (1988)
Studio New Star Art Cinema brings for the first time to our country the 1988 Soviet art film Ashik Kerib, directed by Sergei Parajanov and Dodo Abashidze, based on Mikhail Lermontov’s short story. The film, dedicated to Parajanov’s close friend Andrei Tarkovsky who passed away two years before the film, portrays Azerbaijani culture through vibrant imagery, minimal scripting and folkloric music.
The story follows a poor ashik who is forced to wander the world after the father of his true love opposes their marriage due to his poverty. As his love vows to wait for him for a thousand days and nights, the ashik embarks on a journey, returning on the 1001st day, not empty-handed.
Directors: Dodo Abashidze, Sergei Parajanov
Cast: Yuri Mgoyan, Sofiko Chiaureli, Ramaz Chkhikvadze, Konstantin Stepankov
Languages: Georgian, Azerbaijani (Greek subtitles)
IMDB rating: 7.2/10
Production countries: Soviet Union
Where to watch: Studio New Star Art cinema
Ahed’s Knee (2021)
Israeli director Nadav Lapid (awarded the Gold Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for Synonyms, 2019) directs Ahed’s Knee inspired by the story of young Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi.
The film, awarded the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, follows “Y,” an Israeli director, who arrives in a remote village in the Arava Desert to screen one of his previous films. Struggling with news of his mother’s fatal illness, he is driven into a spiral of rage when the host of the screening, a government employee, asks him to sign a form restricting what he can say during the film’s Q&A.
In interviews, Lapid shared, “This movie was one trembling gesture of urgency and movement — a kind of ode to the present, to the here and now,” noting that the script was written in just two and a half weeks, compared to over a year for Synonyms.
Director: Nadav Lapid
Cast: Avshalom Pollak, Nur Fibak
Language: Hebrew (Greek subtitles)
IMDB rating: 6.2/10
Production countries: Israel, France, Germany
Where to watch: Newman cinema
Dignity (Me axioprepeia, 2022)
After the death of his wife, an 80-year-old man leaves his village to live with his son and daughter-in-law in the city. As his birthday approaches, his son informs the family that he is no longer able to care for him, forcing everyone to confront their responsibilities in finding a new solution.
Director: Dimitris Katsimiris
Cast: Ilektra Gennata, Yorgos Geronimakis, Yannis Kotsifas, Marouska Panagiotopoulou, Thanasis Chalkias, Charis Tsitsakis, Vaggelio Andreadaki, Angeliki Stefani
Language: Greek
IMDB rating: 7.7/10
Production country: Greece
Where to watch: The Greek Film Archive
Screenings for Children
Toto on School Trip (Les Blagues de Toto 2, 2023)
Toto on School Trip (2023) follows Toto and his schoolmates on a five-day field trip to an organic farm, where they embark on exciting adventures.
Director: Pascal Bourdiaux
Cast: Hugo Trophardy, Guillaume de Tonquédec, Anne Marivin
Language: French ( dubbed in Greek)
IMDB rating: 3.9/10
Production country: France
Where to watch: Aigli 3D digital, Cinemax (Nirvana, Aello, Nana, Kifissia), Village cinemas (The Mall, Pangrati, Metro Mall, Rentis), Tria Asteria 3D digital, Sporting digital cinema, Anoixi Art cinema, Foivos digital cinema, Options Cinemas (Glyfada, Ilion)
The Sloth Lane (2024)
The Sloth Lane (2024) tells the story of Laura the Sloth and her family, who move to the big city with only their cherished recipe book and a rusted old food truck. Soon, their delicious food catches the attention of Dotti, a quick-witted cheetah.
Director: Tania Vincent
Cast: Leslie Jones, Teo Vergara, Olivia Vásqueza, Ben Gorroño, Facundo Herrera, Remy Hii
Language: English (dubbed in Greek)
IMDB rating: 8.2/10
Production country: Australia
Where to watch: Athinaion, Cinemax (Kifissia, Nirvana, Aello, Nana), Aigli 3D digital, Tria Asteria 3D digital, Village cinemas (The Mall, Pangrati, Metro Mall, Rentis), Sporting digital cinema, Anoixi Art cinema, Lampros Konstantaras movie theater, Foivos digital cinema, WestCity cinema, Zea cinema, Options cinemas (Ilion, Glyfada)
