Gaspar Noé is often a filmmaker who loves to provoke. Most of the time, this has to do with the content he shows in his films, often delving into incredibly graphic sexual and violent content. But his new film, “Vortex,” is something different.
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As seen in the trailer for “Vortex,” the film follows the story of an aging couple in Paris. The film focuses on the husband trying to care for his wife, who suffers from dementia, while their son also suffers from some personal problems. But that’s entirely too straightforward for a Noé film, right? Well, there’s a trick up his sleeve, as the film unfolds in split-screen.
The film stars Dario Argento, Françoise Lebrun, and Alex Lutz. As mentioned, “Vortex” is written and directed by Gaspar Noé. The filmmaker is probably best known for his features such as “Enter the Void,” “Climax,” and “Irreversible.”
We reviewed the film out of last year’s Cannes Film Festival, and in our review, we said, “Doubtless, due to Noé’s own real-world experiences, ‘Vortex’ is a success, if a dolorous one: a dignified, sometimes desperate tribute to, as the dedication reads, ‘all those whose minds will decompose before their hearts.’”
“Vortex” arrives in select theaters beginning on April 29. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
Presented in split screen, VORTEX tells the story of an aging couple in a Paris apartment. As the mother (Françoise Lebrun) faces advancing dementia, the father (Dario Argento) tries to care for her while dealing with his own declining health, and their son (Alex Lutz) does his best in spite of his own significant personal problems. With this film, Director Gaspar Noé (Enter the Void, Climax, Irreversible) delivers a career best, finding a level of compassion and tenderness that sacrifices none of the visual excitement that has marked his best work.