The Room Next Door
Ingrid and Martha were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation.
Working with a moderate budget of $15.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $21.5M in global revenue (+43% profit margin).
15 wins & 34 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Room Next Door (2024) showcases precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Pedro Almodóvar's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 46 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ingrid in her apartment writing, living her solitary life as a successful novelist. Established routine, comfortable isolation.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Ingrid learns that Martha, her old friend, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The news disrupts her comfortable isolation.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Martha explicitly asks Ingrid to stay with her in the house and be present (in the next room) when she ends her life. Ingrid actively chooses to say yes, crossing into a new moral territory., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Martha reveals the specific date/time she has chosen, or shows Ingrid the pills. False victory: they've grown close again. False defeat: the reality becomes undeniably concrete. The stakes raise dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The night before. Ingrid faces the full weight of what's about to happen. A moment of profound despair, fear of loss, questioning everything. The "whiff of death" becomes literal—their friendship will die with Martha., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 85 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ingrid realizes that true love and friendship means honoring Martha's autonomy and choice. She synthesizes her fear with her compassion. Acceptance and clarity emerge., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Room Next Door's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Room Next Door against these established plot points, we can identify how Pedro Almodóvar utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Room Next Door within the drama genre.
Pedro Almodóvar's Structural Approach
Among the 13 Pedro Almodóvar films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Room Next Door represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Pedro Almodóvar filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Pedro Almodóvar analyses, see Live Flesh, All About My Mother and Julieta.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ingrid in her apartment writing, living her solitary life as a successful novelist. Established routine, comfortable isolation.
Theme
A conversation about control and dignity in death. Someone (possibly at a book event) mentions: "The hardest part isn't dying—it's letting someone else decide how."
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Ingrid's world: her career as a novelist, her solitary lifestyle, her past friendship with Martha. Flashbacks or mentions of their shared history.
Disruption
Ingrid learns that Martha, her old friend, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The news disrupts her comfortable isolation.
Resistance
Ingrid reconnects with Martha. They meet, talk about their lives apart. Martha hints at her plans but Ingrid isn't ready to fully understand or commit. Uncertainty and hesitation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Martha explicitly asks Ingrid to stay with her in the house and be present (in the next room) when she ends her life. Ingrid actively chooses to say yes, crossing into a new moral territory.
Mirror World
Arrival at the secluded house. The physical space becomes a mirror world—a liminal space between life and death where normal rules don't apply. Their friendship deepens in this intimate setting.
Premise
The "promise of the premise"—two old friends sharing a house, talking, remembering, laughing, crying. Exploration of their relationship, past memories, philosophical discussions about death, meaning, and agency.
Midpoint
Martha reveals the specific date/time she has chosen, or shows Ingrid the pills. False victory: they've grown close again. False defeat: the reality becomes undeniably concrete. The stakes raise dramatically.
Opposition
Ingrid's internal conflict intensifies. Doubts emerge. Perhaps an external character (Damian or another) questions the ethics. Time becomes the antagonist—each day brings them closer to the inevitable moment.
Collapse
The night before. Ingrid faces the full weight of what's about to happen. A moment of profound despair, fear of loss, questioning everything. The "whiff of death" becomes literal—their friendship will die with Martha.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul. Ingrid sits alone, processing. Perhaps walks outside, looks at nature, confronts her own mortality and fear. Silence and contemplation.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ingrid realizes that true love and friendship means honoring Martha's autonomy and choice. She synthesizes her fear with her compassion. Acceptance and clarity emerge.
Synthesis
The final hours. Martha and Ingrid share their last moments together. Martha takes the pills. Ingrid stays in the room next door as promised. The act occurs. Ingrid witnesses the aftermath.
Transformation
Ingrid alone in her apartment again (mirroring Status Quo), but transformed. She writes or reflects, no longer isolated but connected to the profound experience. She has witnessed and honored death with dignity.