The House Next Door

The film shifts between Martha's life in the 1970s and the present day, where her health crisis and euthanasia plans unfold. The 1970s backstory reveals past relationships and the origins of the tensions among the characters. In the present, Ingrid and Martha navigate mortality, loyalty, and the possibility of saying goodbye.

The story moves between a Manhattan hospital and a rented country house in Woodstock, New York. The hospital setting provides a clinical, urgent atmosphere, while Woodstock offers a quiet, reflective backdrop for intimate conversations about life and death. The contrast between the city and the countryside underscores themes of mortality, memory, and farewell.

💀 Death

The central arc centers on dying with dignity, the planning of euthanasia, and the emotional ripple effects on Ingrid and those around Martha. The story probes how acceptance, fear, and love shape decisions at the end of life. It questions whether end-of-life choices are noble, selfish, or something more nuanced.

🤝 Caregiving

Ingrid's commitment to staying with Martha reflects the burden and devotion of caregiving. The arrangement tests boundaries, loyalty, and personal safety as the two navigate fear, hope, and moral ambiguity. Support from friends like Damian and legal advisors also enters the caregiving dynamic.

🧠 Memory

The story unfolds through memory and confession, revealing past loves, wars, and broken promises. Secrets from the 1970s life—like Fred's fate and the hidden pain of Martha's daughter—reappear, shaping present actions. Memory becomes a lens on truth, guilt, and reconciliation.