Vortex

Vortex

Year: 2022

Runtime: 140 min

Language: French

Echo Score: 70
Drama

As dementia takes hold, a retired psychiatrist experiences a gradual loss of his grasp on reality. Simultaneously, a struggling writer finds his creativity stifled by failing health. These two men, sharing a similar stage in life, forge a profound connection and find comfort in their shared experiences. Their relationship explores themes of aging, mortality, and the enduring power of human connection as they navigate their twilight years.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Vortex (2022)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Vortex (2022). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 2020s

The story is set in contemporary times, focusing on a senior couple in the final chapter of their lives. The events spiral around illness, hospital visits, and the gradual erosion of memory, culminating in the death of both partners. The final imagery and mourning photos anchor the narrative in a present-day context.

Location

the couple's apartment

The action unfolds almost entirely within a single apartment, emphasizing the claustrophobic atmosphere of aging at home. The space is filled with books and personal objects the husband clings to, symbols of memory and identity. As reality fractures, the home becomes a fragile sanctuary that absorbs the couple's decline.

🏠 Domestic 🧠 Dementia 🎭 Psychological

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:40

Main Characters – Vortex (2022)

Meet the key characters of Vortex (2022), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Stéphane (Alex Lutz)

The son of the couple, with a history of drug abuse who lives apart with his own son. He is torn between wanting to protect his parents and the pull of his own instability. His plea to move them into supervised housing contrasts with his fear of losing the couple's home and memories.

💊 Addiction 👨‍👦 Family 🧭 Responsibility

Claire

The wife, a former caregiver whose dementia erodes memory and perception. She becomes increasingly dependent on her husband and eventually wanders the hallway, highlighting the fragility of identity. Her struggle culminates in a quiet, ambiguous death, underscoring the film's quiet tragedy.

🧠 Dementia 🏠 Caregiver 💔 Tragedy

Husband

A distinguished author consumed by his cinema dreams, aging and frail but determined to finish a book. He anchors the story with memory and storytelling while his health deteriorates, and his eventual death frames the film's meditation on time and loss.

✍️ Writer 🧭 Memory 🪦 Finality

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:40

Major Themes – Vortex (2022)

Explore the central themes of Vortex (2022), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⏳ Aging

Aging frames the entire story: declining health, memory loss, and the urge to preserve the past. The couple's routines tighten as time advances, testing their bond under strain. The intimate, domestic setting highlights vulnerability and the limits of control in late life.

🧠 Memory

Memory is fractured by dementia, blurring what is real and what is remembered. The film uses a split-screen device to reflect each character's inner perception and the difficulty of sustained communication. Objects, photographs, and dreams anchor identity even as memory fades.

🤝 Caregiving

Caregiving emerges as a demanding act of love and obligation. The son's plea to relocate to supervised housing clashes with a fierce attachment to the home and memories. The film explores guilt, duty, and the boundaries of intervention in aging parents' lives.

💀 Mortality

Mortality looms as both partners decline: the husband dies after a heart attack, and the wife dies soon after, with hints of gas-poisoning at night. The ending juxtaposes memory with absence, underscoring the emptiness left in the home and in those left behind.

🎬 Cinema

Cinema and dream-work anchor the husband's identity as a writer, shaping his perceptions and memories. The narrative blends fiction and lived experience, using filmic motifs to explore how art survives alongside aging. The apartment walls echo with references to cinema and imagination.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:40

Unlock the Full Story of Vortex

Don't stop at just watching — explore Vortex 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 Vortex is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Vortex Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Vortex, 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.

Vortex Summary

Vortex Timeline

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

Vortex Timeline

Vortex Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Vortex? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Vortex Ending Explained

Vortex Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Vortex that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Vortex Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Vortex

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Vortex: 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 Vortex

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