Chronic

Chronic

Year: 2016

Runtime: 93 min

Language: English

Director: Michel Franco

Drama

A compassionate nurse named David, portrayed by Tim Roth, finds purpose and connection while caring for terminally ill patients. However, he battles his own struggles with chronic depression and carries a heavy burden of guilt and remorse. Seeking solace in his work, David attempts to mask his inner turmoil, but must eventually confront his troubled past to find a path toward healing and redemption.

Chronic (2016) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Chronic (2016) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a hushed world where the rhythm of life is measured in breaths and quiet conversations, the film dwells in the intimate spaces of hospitals, hospice rooms, and the fleeting moments between appointments. The setting feels both clinical and deeply personal, allowing the everyday rituals of care—softly spoken reassurance, the careful arranging of blankets, the measured preparation of meals—to become a quiet stage on which larger questions about mortality and meaning play out. The atmosphere is deliberately restrained, inviting the audience to listen to the unspoken weight that rests on the shoulders of those who tend to the dying.

_ David _ is a seasoned nurse whose steady hands and meticulous routine mask a storm of chronic depression and lingering remorse. Though his exterior is composed, his internal landscape is a maze of unresolved grief, punctuated by the lingering echo of past loss. He seeks solace in the act of caring, finding brief flashes of purpose in the dignity he offers to patients faced with the end of their lives. A subtle thread runs through his days: an almost obsessive attention to a young woman he follows online, hinting at a personal connection that lingers just out of reach, and suggesting that his own history may be intertwining with his present responsibilities.

The tone is contemplative and melancholic, blending the stark realism of a medical environment with a lyrical focus on human vulnerability. The film moves at a measured pace, allowing each interaction to resonate, and invites viewers to sit with the quiet desperation and fleeting moments of grace that define both caregiving and the struggle to confront one’s own shadows. As David navigates the delicate balance between professional duty and personal redemption, the story gently probes whether the act of caring for others can become a pathway toward healing oneself.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:54

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about caregivers with heavy burdens like Chronic

Intimate stories of those who care for others while hiding their own pain.For viewers who appreciated the somber portrayal of caregiving in Chronic, this list features movies with similar character-driven stories. If you liked watching David navigate his professional duty and personal despair, you'll find these quiet, emotionally heavy dramas about nurses, family members, and other caretakers compelling.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread often follow a quiet, character-centered arc. The protagonist's routine of caring for others (often the ill or dying) serves as a backdrop for exploring their internal struggles. The plot is frequently less about external events and more about the slow, painful process of confronting past trauma and enduring grief.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on the caregiver's perspective, a melancholic and introspective tone, and a heavy emotional weight derived from themes of loss and duty. They create a specific, reflective mood built on quiet moments and unspoken sorrow.

Bleak dramas about guilt and remorse like Chronic

Character-driven dramas where profound guilt leads to a bleak, ambiguous end.If the unresolved, heavy feeling of guilt and the bleak ending of Chronic resonated with you, explore these similarly themed movies. This collection features character-driven stories about individuals haunted by their past, leading to somber and emotionally complex conclusions that mirror the experience of the film.

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Narrative Summary

The pattern involves a protagonist marked by a specific, haunting regret (often involving family). Their current actions are a direct, sometimes subconscious, response to this guilt. The story unfolds slowly, revealing the past in fragments, and culminates in an ending that reflects the inescapable nature of their pain, rather than providing a tidy resolution.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a strong connective tissue through their central theme of debilitating guilt, a melancholic to bleak tone, and conclusions that deny simple redemption. They deliver a powerful, heavy emotional experience focused on psychological realism and the lingering effects of trauma.

Unlock the Full Story of Chronic

Don't stop at just watching — explore Chronic in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Chronic is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Chronic Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Chronic, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Chronic Summary

Chronic Timeline

Track the full timeline of Chronic with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Chronic Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Chronic

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Chronic. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Chronic

More About Chronic

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Chronic: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Chronic

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Discover movies like Chronic that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.