French
DeutschAd Vitam (film)
| Ad Vitam | |
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 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Rodolphe Lauga |
| Screenplay by | Rodolphe Lauga David Corona Guillaume Canet |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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Production company |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
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| Country | France |
| Language | French |
Ad Vitam is a 2025 French action thriller film directed by Rodolphe Lauga and starring Guillaume Canet, who also co-wrote the film with Lauga and David Corona. It was released globally on Netflix on 10 January 2025.
Premise
[edit]A former gendarme, dismissed from his job after a tragic accident, gets mixed in a dangerous conspiracy when his pregnant wife is kidnapped.[1][2]
Cast
[edit]- Guillaume Canet as Franck Lazareff
- Stéphane Caillard as Léo
- Nassim Lyes as Ben
- Zita Hanrot as Manon
- Alexis Manenti as Nico
Production
[edit]The film is directed Rodolphe Lauga, who co-wrote it with Guillaume Canet and David Corona. Canet is a producer alongside Jean Cottin for Cabanes Productions. Canet also has a starring role. Appearing alongside him in the cast are Stéphane Caillard, Nassim Lyes, Zita Hanrot and Alexis Manenti.[3]
Principal photography took place in Paris in April 2024.[4] Filming continued in Paris and Versailles into June 2024.[5]
Release
[edit]It was released on Netflix on 10 January 2025.[6]
Reception
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 42% of 12 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.8/10.[7] Elisabeth Vincentelli in The New York Times criticised the pacing of the film, describing a long flashback sequence that may be designed to provide "emotional weight, but it only creates belly fat".[8] Dennis Harvey for Variety said it was "entertaining" and certainly "not dull", but became increasingly hard to take seriously, as the script veers between gritty thriller terrain to the kind of overscaled set-pieces more apt for James Bond". Harvey felt that the different sections "failure to gel" is “exacerbated by an awkward story structure whose midsection is a long, two-part flashback".[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Bologna, Caroline (January 13, 2025). "A French Action Thriller Is The Top Movie On Netflix Right Now". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Barone, Martina (January 13, 2025). ""Ad Vitam" is Guillaume Canet's one-man action show". nssmag.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (April 17, 2024). "Guillaume Canet Stars in New French Netflix Thriller 'Ad Vitam'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Calnan, Ellie (April 17, 2024). "Netflix thriller 'Ad Vitam' starring Guillaume Canet starts shooting in Paris". Screen Daily. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (April 17, 2024). "Guillaume Canet Action Thriller 'Ad Vitam' Begins Shoot in Paris For Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Sarrubbia, Stefania (January 14, 2025). "Netflix's French action hit lands mixed first reviews". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ "Ad Vitam". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
- ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (January 10, 2025). "Vitam' Review: High Stakes and Paragliding". New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Harvey, Dennis (January 13, 2025). "'Ad Vitam' Review: Guillaume Canet Tries to Launch a Netflix Action Franchise in Overstuffed Thriller". Variety. Retrieved January 14, 2025.