Chronic

David is a nurse whose deep empathy drives his caregiving, often blurring the line between professional duty and personal attachment. He tends dying patients with meticulous care and seeks to connect on a human level, even as his past grief shapes his decisions. The combination of devotion and boundary-testing leads to consequences that reveal the film’s moral ambiguity.

Sarah is the first patient, dying of AIDS, whom David tends with tenderness and dignity. He helps with daily care and attends her funeral, making her death a catalyst for his escalating personal and professional troubles. Her passing marks the beginning of a cascade of ethical complexities surrounding care.

John is an elderly stroke victim and an architect who forms a bond with David, allowing him to share personal moments. He becomes a catalyst for the harassment case against the agency when a porn incident occurs, illustrating how care relationships can become entangled with vulnerability and judgment. His family’s lawsuit pushes David out of his role, complicating his career and life.

Nadia is a medical student who initially is the object of David’s stalking, but is revealed to be his daughter. This twist forces David to confront his past actions and the consequences of his grief. Her relationship with David complicates his caregiving and personal identity.

Isaac is David’s friend and former boss who helps him land work with other clients. He knows about the harassment suit but continues to advocate for David, illustrating the precarious nature of job support within a damaged system.

Martha is a cancer patient who hires David to support her chemotherapy routine. As her cancer worsens, she lies about remission, asks David to help her die, and ultimately dies after he administers an injection, leaving a traceable trail back to him.

Greg is a 16-year-old boy confined to a wheelchair who David cares for for a week while his regular caregiver is away. Their brief interactions include friction, and Greg’s defiant moment in the park underscores the strain in caregiver–patient boundaries.

Robert is David’s boss who fires him after the agency faces a sexual harassment lawsuit tied to John’s incident. He embodies the institutional consequences of blurred boundaries and the fragility of professional protection.