‘Ad Vitam’: The True Meaning Behind The Movie Title

With its gripping plot of action, government plots, and surprising turns, the French crime thriller ‘Ad Vitam’ has topped the OTT charts. The movie, which was directed by Rodolphe Lauga, centres on Franck (Guillaume Canet), a former government agent who must face his past after his apartment is broken into and his pregnant wife, Léo (Stéphane Caillard), is abducted. Both used to be members of the elite tactical unit GIGN, but Franck is sought after inadvertently interfering with a clandestine operation. The title of the movie, which translates to “for life” in Latin, has significant symbolic resonance throughout the narrative.

After a group of armed men ambush their house in search of a vital piece of evidence, Franck, Léo, and their ally Ben (Nassim Lyes) barely make it out alive. Vanaken (Johan Heldenbergh) is the leader of the attackers, who are pursuing Franck’s GIGN patch, which contains evidence of official wrongdoing. 

Image Courtesy: People

By creating a fictitious bloodstained patch, Franck and his group are able to fool Vanaken and buy themselves a little more time. Léo eventually outwits their adversaries despite his injuries, using the genuine patch to clear Franck’s name. Ultimately, she and Franck, who is now free, reunite as they start a new chapter with their newborn daughter.

Franck’s GIGN badge, a memento of his late father, with the words ‘Ad Vitam’. As Franck battles his feelings of guilt over the loss of his best friend Nico, the movie examines themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and redemption. Beyond merely surviving, his endeavour aims to end a cycle of violence and embrace life beyond obligation. By the end, he understands that choosing a peaceful future with his family is what truly gives him strength, not simply fighting.

–Farheen Ali