Bullet Points: Ad Vitam (2025)
My latest Netflix journey abroad takes me all the way to France for the brand new action-thriller, Ad Vitam…
- She’s Having a Baby: Franck Lazareff (Guillaume Canet) and his wife, Leo Lazareff (Stéphane Caillard) are expecting their first child. But the couple wasn’t expecting to return home from their sonogram appointment to find that their apartment had been broken into and ransacked. Although, maybe they should have… we learn that this is the second time this has happened in recent weeks and that theirs is the only apartment in the building to have been burglarized. Leo can’t help but wonder what the thieves are after…. things don’t get any better when Franck is nearly killed at work! The incident spooks him to the point that he just runs out on his job to make sure Leo is alright. Then things get worse…
- Taken: Leo confronts Franck one evening, she knows something is going on and she wants answers. Franck is seemingly about to tell her, when their home is invaded by numerous armed men wearing masks. Both Franck and Leo kick some ass as they defend themselves, but they can’t overcome the numbers advantage. They restrain Franck and begin their interrogation… but Franck isn’t telling them what they want to hear… so the head baddie, Vanaken (Johan Heldenbergh), has Leo taken away, before beating Franck unconscious…
- Police Academy: The movie then goes back 10 years and we see Franck and Leo as they graduate to become part of France’s elite police unit, GIGN. Thanks to montage magic, we see GIGN training exercises, GIGN missions and we see the bonds that Franck is building with some of his fellow officers like Nico (Alexis Manenti) and Ben (Nassim Lyes) and of course, Leo… which eventually turns into a romantic relationship. The flashback portion of the film comprises the entire second act of the movie and also includes the mission that goes terribly wrong that ends up costing Franck a friend, his job and the trouble he and his wife now find themselves in.
- Back to the Future: With all the gaps now filled in, we see Franck wake up from the beating he received at the end of act one, and given the ultimatum… give Vanaken what he wants or Leo dies! Covering all bases, Vanaken has already framed Franck for the murder of the co-worker who tried to kill him, so going to the police is not an option… since Franck is a wanted man. This is the point in the movie where the action really picks up, including a rooftop escape, a big car chase/shootout and Franck making one of the most unique saves in action movie history!
The Rodolphe Lauga directed Ad Vitam took a gamble with a lengthy “flashback” right in the middle of the movie, but for me it was a gamble that paid off as it was a chance to become more emotionally invested in the Franck and Leo characters. I can see some people checking out during the flashbacks, but then they are going to miss out on a really well done action packed third act.
Ad Vitam was a the first stamp on my Netflix passport for 2025,and I can’t help but wonder where it will take me next. I know where this review is going next, and that’s to some Bonus Bullet Points…
- Translation: Ad Vitam is a Latin phrase meaning “for life”. The NWO would be proud.
- MVP: My favorite character, and one who really makes a difference in Franck’s life, was Franck’s GIGN protege, Ben. When all the chips are down, Ben is there for Franck, and Ben is also a badass!
- Anxiety Alert: If you are like me and not a fan of heights, there are several scenes in Ad Vitam that may get you a little anxious.
