Vortex (2021)

Watched Vortex at the very first night it was screening in Paris. To be fair, I don’t understand French and there were no subtitles, but it made me feel vulnerable and bitter even in that circumstance.The movie doesn’t contain scenes of any kind of abuse as other Gaspar Noe movies, but still, it leaves you looking blank at the screen. Before going in to the movie theater I knew what the movie was about and I’ve seen the trailer as well; however, Noe still managed to impress me and others. When the movie ended everyone at the theater was extremely quite, and their faces looked like the movie touched their souls somehow; and I think that’s because every single scene is so real. There are no surreal settings or extreme characters that you probably wouldn’t meet throughout your life, every scene feels like you could have been there.Also, the split screen (in my opinion) explains how even though you meet people and spend some, or most of your life with them, at the end, you’re all alone. I feel like this is a common theme Noe enjoys reminding his viewers, and to me, this technique did the job quite right. I especially enjoyed watching Françoise Lebrun’s facial expression and hand while the screen was splitting: I don’t know whether this was done on purpose, but it made me think that she was anxious because she was realizing how they’re drawn apart, and tried to prevent it until the very last moment.Structure-wise, it’s nothing like other movies of Gaspar Noe’s- I guess it’s more of an experimental one; so you might be disappointed if you expect the crazy visuals, the scenes built around ‘dirty realism’, or that underground feeling in general. But feeling-wise, Gaspar Noe once again managed to draw the audience into their own inner worlds and leave them alone with their staggering emotions. I definitely think this movie is more than another product of the culture industry that you consume mindlessly and instinctively, and rather an actual piece of art that makes you feel emotions. Can’t wait to see the English version!