Vortex

[AtlàntidaFF '22] Perhaps a step towards a different way of understanding cinema, but obviously a consequence of the stroke he suffered in 2020, Gaspar Noé dialogues with death, tired and frustrated old age, in the shadow of dementia, in one of his calmest but also darkest films. There are echoes of "Amour" (Michael Haneke, 2012), but also of the split screen of "Forty deuce" (Paul Morrissey, 1982), there are two performances/improvisations that recreate decrepitude without being ashamed, which ends up being the best part of the film .

The least erotic film I’ve watched from Gaspar Noé but probably my favorite. It is like Amour (Haneke, 2012) with an alternative ”3D” attempt referable to what Godard did in Adieu au langage (2014) - 3D attempts to recreate a sense of space, Godard experimented on the technique of superimposing two different images instead of the traditional way which two images are identical. Noé presents the same time and space from different perspectives and use the juxtaposition to introduce a dimensional image in audience’s mind.

“To all those whose brains will decompose before their hearts.”

Oh God, what a pain to sit through. They could have cut over half of the film, but it’s the prolonged stretches of dead time that mostly convey an overwhelming sense of emptiness and desolation. There’s no emphasis on the drama, no conflict, no visual tricks. The split screen has no purpose, if not to keep the two protagonists apart for the whole movie. Although a quite dull experience overall, it undeniably manages to make an indelible impression, even despite its dangerous resemblance to Haneke's "Amour".

Like _The Father_ but without the intrigue. Vortex is the story of getting old and you can feel yourself getting old while you watch it.

I am famously unimpressed with Noé and this film does nothing but cement the idea in my brain that he is a film bro trying harder to be 'important' than he is to be 'good'.

I really like Gaspar's early work, namely _Irreversible_, and _I Stand Alone_. His movies typically deal with the extreme, be it sex or violence. This movie has none of that. I think this will be a very polarizing film for his fans. While it lacks all the disturbing subject matter he is best known for, it still has the unmistakable Noe touches, like the lighting and camera work.
For anyone who doesn't already know, the movie is filmed in split screen, meaning 99% of it is showing two points of view. While this wasn't as annoying as I thought it would be, I don't feel it was needed. It's merely a detail about an otherwise forgettable film.
Now, I don't want to be too harsh with this, because I liked moments, and I can see why some people would really like _Vortex_.
Trouble is I already dislike art films, and this is almost two-and-a-half hours of old people walking around, then sitting, then walking, then sitting.
The dialog is minimal, the story is almost nonexistent, there are loose ends. If the movie doesn't want to tell a story, why should I care to watch it?
Again, not wanting to rip this apart, just because I didn't like it. If you are a fan of slow, art-house films, you are going to love this.
Would this have been handled like most indie dramas, I think my grade would be a 7 or 8. See, the plot actually hits home for me: my parents are around the age of Lui, and Elle, with similar health issues, and at the end of the movie... well, let's just say I never thought a Gaspar Noe film would have me crying.

This is the true dystopia of the future that awaits us all.