Presented in split screen, VORTEX tells the story of an aging couple in a Paris apartment. As the mother (Françoise Lebrun) faces advancing dementia, the father (Dario Argento) tries to care for her while dealing with his own declining health, and their son (Alex Lutz) does his best in spite of his own significant personal problems.
For in-depth thoughts on Vortex, please see my colleague Mike Vaughn’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Vortex debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Utopia with a rich 1080p video presentation that fans of Noé should really appreciate. The film is presented in a largely split-screen style of two 1.33:1 frames in a 2.39:1 package. While the specific style may be a bit unique, Noé chooses to be rather reserved in the presentation of each screen itself. There is a stark mundanity and lack of intense crispness which works very well on a thematic level. As cameras roam from room to room with each character, you will not be treated to ultra-clear textural details, but the environment will be tactile enough to achieve its goals. The high definition master is consistent with a formidable encode that shows no signs of compression artifacts or macroblocking.
The presentation does impress when it comes to the depth on display, as the Noé and director of photography Benoît Debie makes what must be a reserved apartment feel like a sprawling labyrinth. The production design along with the fabrics of clothing provide some semblance of textural details. The image is free of artifacts and the color palette has an almost sickly brownish quality to it. The flesh tones are natural with some noticeable detail present in close-ups. The black levels fare pretty well even in dark corners of the apartment with no major signs of crush or banding. This is about as strong of a presentation as you could want from this material.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray provides a pleasing DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original French which perfectly captures the sonic ambitions of this narrative. Given the nature of this film, this track is admittedly not the most dynamic experience, but there is never a point where it feels like it is coming up short. Where the film does shine is in the environmental details of the setting. When the characters are roaming from room to room, there are some precise ambient details that bring the domestic setting to life. Whether it is clicking on a stove or the sounds of a television program from the next room, you are transported to this reserved abode alongside the characters. In terms of sheer numbers, the scenes of lingering silence likely far outweigh exchanges of dialogue, but when characters speak their words come through clearly. The low end of the track rarely provides more than a wisp of texture to the proceedings. Overall, there is not much to complain about with this presentation. This release provides forced English subtitles with optional closed captions.
Special Features
- Theatrical Trailer: The minute-and-a-half trailer is provided here.
- Q&A with Gaspar Noé at the IFC Center (NY): A 23-minute panel moderated by Eric Kohn from Indiewire with the director in which he discusses his motivation behind the aesthetic of the film, the personal nature of the story, choreographing the movement within the frame, casting the notable figures in the lead roles, the condition put forth by Dario Argento to convince him to take this role and more. Noé is always such a lively figure, and it is a treat to hear him speak at length.
- Q&A with Gaspar Noé from the 59th NYFF (NY): A 27-minute virtual panel in which the director discusses the rapid pace of the production during the height of the pandemic, how he feels this work fits within his larger output, his desire to work with older performers, the universal truth of the narrative thrust and more. While Noé thrives more in-person like the previous panel, this interview is still deeply informative and entertaining.
- Booklet: There is a booklet included featuring the essay “Grief Velocity” by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas which delves into the thematic elements and presentational tricks implemented in this story.
Final Thoughts
Vortex is not the typical project you would expect from Gaspar Noé, but once you have seen it you quickly realize it may be one of his most unsettling films to date. Rather than sonically assault you like he did in Lux Aeterna, the director swings wildly in the opposing direction with a deliberately slow and mundane look at the deterioration of a body. This is enhanced by a mammoth runtime usually reserved for modern blockbusters, but it admittedly aids in keeping you deeply uncomfortable and worried you might be trapped in this reality with the characters. The two main performances are expertly reserved and immensely powerful in their authenticity. Utopia and Vinegar Syndrome have released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and a good assortment of special features. If you are up for another emotionally taxing work from Noé, do not be afraid to seek this one out. Recommended
Vortex will be available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome on October 25, 2022.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Utopia and Vinegar Syndrome have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.