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Characters & Themes

Ava (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 96 min · English
Echo score 45
JustWatch #14,430 10
Directed by
Tate Taylor
Starring
Geena Davis, Common, Colin Farrell, Jessica Chastain, Janelle Feigley, Ioan Gruffudd

Ava is a highly skilled and ruthless assassin working for a clandestine organization, carrying out dangerous assignments worldwide. During a particularly challenging mission, things go awry, forcing her to confront unexpected threats and fight to protect her own life. She must use all her training and resourcefulness to survive.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Ava
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Ava (2020)

Where can you watch Ava? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Ava Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Ava (2020), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Ava Faulkner (Jessica Chastain)

    Ava Faulkner is a determined and complex character who balances her skills as an assassin with her struggles against addiction and a tumultuous past. Her journey reflects a quest for redemption and a longing to reconnect with her family, making her a relatable figure despite her violent profession.

    • 🗡️ Assassin
    • 🥀 Vulnerability
    • 🥇 Resilience
  • Duke (John Malkovich)

    Duke serves as Ava's handler and represents a dark paternal figure in her life, guiding her career while simultaneously manipulating her fate. His pragmatic approach to their lethal business highlights the moral gray areas in their relationship, showcasing the often ruthless reality of working in covert operations.

    • 🔒 Authority
    • 🤝 Manipulation
    • ⚔️ Mentor
  • Michael (Common)

    Michael is Ava's former fiancé, representing a connection to her past life and the normalcy she sacrificed for her career. His presence complicates Ava's emotional landscape, as unresolved feelings and a new relationship with her sister create tension and heartache.

    • ❤️ Romance
    • 🌪️ Conflict
    • 🔄 Change
  • Simon (Colin Farrell)

    Simon is depicted as a calculating and antagonistic figure, embodying the dangers of cloaked intentions in the world of espionage. His hidden agendas and ultimate betrayal emphasize the theme of trust and the precarious nature of alliances within the assassin's trade.

    • ⚖️ Villain
    • 🕶️ Deception
    • 🧩 Complexity

Last updated: December 12, 2024 at 23:06

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Setting

Where and When Does Ava Take Place?

The setting of Ava (2020): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The events in 'Ava' unfold in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues such as addiction, personal conflict, and the complexities of familial relationships. The narrative is set against a backdrop of political intrigue and assassination, emblematic of current global tensions and the secretive nature of espionage operations.

Location

France, Saudi Arabia, Boston, Barneville-Carteret, British Columbia

The movie takes place in several key locations, including the scenic countryside of France where Ava's mission begins, the bustling streets of Boston where she reconnects with her family, and the stark cityscape of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where a high-stakes operation unfolds. Barneville-Carteret on the Normandy coast provides a picturesque backdrop for respite amidst the intense drama. Each location contributes to the narrative's tension and character development.

  • 🏞️ Landscape
  • 🌆 Urban
  • 🌊 Coastal

Last updated: December 12, 2024 at 23:06

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3 major themes

Ava Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Ava (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Assassination

    The theme of assassination permeates the narrative as Ava, a skilled assassin, grapples with her morally ambiguous career while questioning her targets. The implications of violence and the personal cost of her profession weigh heavily on her character, leading to deep psychological conflicts and ethical dilemmas.

  • Family Strain

    Family dynamics play a crucial role in the storyline as Ava struggles with her estranged relationships with her mother and sister. The tension and unresolved issues create emotional conflicts that drive her decisions, showcasing how family ties can be both a source of strength and vulnerability.

  • Betrayal

    Betrayal is a pervasive theme, illustrated by Ava's challenges with her handler Duke and the operatives in her world. The deceptive nature of her profession leads to unexpected twists, as trust is shattered and motives are questioned, reflecting the often treacherous landscape of espionage.

Last updated: December 12, 2024 at 23:06

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Character & theme questions

Ava Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Ava (2020): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The movie takes place across several key locations: the scenic countryside of France, particularly Barneville-Carteret on the Normandy coast; Boston where Ava reconnect with her family; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where a major operation unfolds. These settings range from coastal landscapes to bustling urban environments, each contributing to the story's tension.

  • locations
  • france
  • boston
  • riyadh
  • setting
  • barneville-carteret
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

Ava is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues like addiction, personal conflict, and family tensions. The story unfolds against a backdrop of political intrigue and assassination, emblematic of current global tensions and modern espionage operations.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern
  • setting
  • year 2020
Q3

What are the main themes in the movie?

The movie explores three central themes: assassination and the moral costs of violence; family strain as Ava deals with estranged relationships with her mother and sister; and betrayal, as trust is shattered by handlers and operatives in her world. These themes intersect to create a story about redemption and survival.

  • themes
  • assassination
  • family strain
  • betrayal
  • morality
Q4

Who is Duke in the movie?

Duke, played by John Malkovich, is Ava's handler and serves as a dark paternal figure in her life. He guides her career in assassination while simultaneously manipulating her fate, representing the moral gray areas of covert operations and the complex power dynamics in her profession.

  • duke
  • john malkovich
  • handler
  • mentor
  • character
Q5

Who is Simon in the movie?

Simon, played by Colin Farrell, is a calculating and antagonistic figure in the film. He embodies the dangers of cloaked intentions in the world of espionage, with hidden agendas that lead to betrayal, emphasizing the precarious nature of trust within assassin's trade.

  • simon
  • colin farrell
  • antagonist
  • betrayal
  • character
Q6

What is the movie about thematically?

Beyond its action surface, Ava explores the psychological toll of violence and the personal cost of a morally ambiguous career. The film delves into themes of addiction, trauma, and estrangement while examining whether redemption is possible for someone deep in a world of assassination and betrayal.

  • thematic meaning
  • redemption
  • trauma
  • addiction
  • psychological
Q7

Who is Michael in the movie?

Michael, played by Common, is Ava's former fiancé who represents her connection to a normal past life she sacrificed for her career. His presence complicates her emotional landscape, as unresolved feelings and his new relationship with Ava's sister create additional heartache and tension.

  • michael
  • common
  • former fiancé
  • character
  • relationships
Q8

What is the tone and mood of the movie?

The film carries a predominantly tense tone, driven by life-or-death stakes and the constant threat of betrayal from her organization. This tension is underpinned by a melancholic undercurrent stemming from Ava's personal trauma, addiction struggles, and family estrangement, creating a bittersweet emotional landscape.

  • tone
  • mood
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • emotional weight
Q9

What genre does the movie fall into?

Ava is an action-thriller with elements of crime drama and mystery. The film combines intense action sequences with psychological depth, exploring themes of espionage, betrayal, and personal redemption within the thriller genre framework.

  • genre
  • action
  • thriller
  • crime
  • drama
  • mystery
Q10

How does family play a role in the story?

Family dynamics are central to Ava's character arc. She struggles with estranged relationships with her mother and sister, and these tensions drive many of her decisions. Family ties serve as both a source of vulnerability and a potential source of strength and redemption throughout the film.

  • family
  • mother
  • sister
  • relationships
  • estrangement

Movie threads

More Movies Like Ava, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Ava tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Assassin redemption stories like in Ava

Skilled killers forced to face the ghosts they left behind. Movies like Ava where a highly skilled killer is haunted by their past. If you enjoyed the themes of trauma, estrangement, and moral reckoning in Ava, you'll find similar stories here featuring action-packed thrillers with heavy emotional weight and complex protagonists.

  • tense
  • gritty
  • melancholic
  • resilient
  • paranoid
  • redemptive
  • Tone: tense, melancholic
  • Pacing: fast, with character-driven pauses
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a seasoned killer on a mission that goes awry, forcing a confrontation with a neglected personal life or a traumatic event from their history. The external conflict with a betraying organization or ruthless enemies runs parallel to an internal struggle for identity and atonement, often culminating in a bittersweet victory where survival comes at a great personal cost.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a specific blend of high-intensity action and a melancholic, character-driven core. They focus on the psychological toll of a violent life, exploring themes of redemption, betrayal, and the difficult path back to one's humanity, creating a consistently tense and emotionally heavy experience.

Action thrillers with gritty betrayal like in Ava

When the most dangerous threat comes from within your own circle. If you liked the tense atmosphere and themes of organized betrayal in Ava, this list features similar movies. Discover fast-paced, high-intensity thrillers where protagonists must outsmart their former allies in a deadly game of survival, all within a gritty, morally complex world.

  • tense
  • anxious
  • paranoid
  • gritty
  • suspenseful
  • chaotic
  • Tone: tense, anxious, bleak
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often begin with a trusted operative on a routine mission that reveals a deeper conspiracy against them. The plot unfolds rapidly as the protagonist becomes a fugitive, navigating a dangerous landscape where no one can be trusted. The narrative is driven by a series of confrontations, chases, and revelations, building towards a final clash that tests the protagonist's resilience and resourcefulness.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their core premise of betrayal from within a powerful organization, which creates a pervasive sense of tension and paranoia. They share a fast pace, high intensity, and a gritty aesthetic, focusing on a resilient but vulnerable protagonist fighting against overwhelming odds in a world devoid of clear moral boundaries.

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Movies Like Ava

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Every angle

Ava (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Ava in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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