Vortex (2021 film)

Vortex
French theatrical release poster
Directed byGaspar Noé
Written byGaspar Noé
Produced by
  • Edouard Weil
  • Vincent Maraval
  • Brahim Chioua
Starring
CinematographyBenoît Debie
Edited byDenis Bedlow
Production
companies
  • Rectangle Productions
  • Les Cinémas de la Zone
  • KNM
  • Artémis Productions
  • Srab Films
  • Les Films Velvet
  • Kallouche Cinéma
  • Shelter Prod
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 16 July 2021 (2021-07-16) (Cannes)
  • 13 April 2022 (2022-04-13) (France)
Running time
142 minutes
Countries
  • France
  • Belgium
  • Monaco
LanguageFrench
Box office$278,472[1][2]

Vortex is a 2021 avant-garde psychological drama film[3] written and directed by Gaspar Noé.[4] It stars Dario Argento as a father and author, in his first leading role,[5] alongside Françoise Lebrun as his wife, and Alex Lutz as their son, Stéphane. The film deals with the themes of the human condition and personal problems, uses a slow, minimal cinematic approach and is almost defiantly restrained: a pockmarked, faded palette of the frame, deaf voices, and the use of low-frequency background sound.

The film premiered in the Cannes Premiere section at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival,[6][7] to widespread acclaim from film critics, a departure from Noé's previous films which had received divisive receptions. Praise was given in particular for Noé's direction, Argento and Lebrun's performances, the film’s emotional power, scope, ambition and execution. This marked Noé's professional and creative shift from extremity to the slow cinema genre, with the use of realistic character drama.[8][9][10]

  1. ^ "Vortex (2021)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Vortex (2021)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Gaspar Noe bags top award at Istanbul Film Festival". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  4. ^ "'Vortex': Gaspar Noé Made a Mysterious Quasi-Documentary Starring Dario Argento". Bloody Disgusting. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  5. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (1 May 2022). "Gaspar Noé On Directing 'Vortex' And Dario Argento – Specialty Box Office". Deadline. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Gaspar Noé releases first image for surprise Cannes addition 'Vortex'". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  7. ^ "'Vortex' First Look: Gaspar Noé Returns with Surprise Movie Starring Dario Argento". IndieWire. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  8. ^ Brooks, Xan (16 July 2021). "Vortex review – Gaspar Noé's latest goes gentle, for once, into the night". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  9. ^ "With 'Vortex,' Provocateur Filmmaker Gaspar Noé Tackles the Quiet Horror of Dementia". Time. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  10. ^ Nelson, Jeff (27 April 2022). "'Vortex' Movie Review: Gaspar Noé Depicts Hopelessness in Both Life and Death". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 7 May 2022.