What Ad Vitam Means & How It Connects To The Netflix Movie

Netflix's new French-language action thriller Ad Vitam has an interesting title, and its English translation carries a lot of meaning for the film. Ad Vitam is the newest John Wick-esque action movie from Netflix, and it's already climbed to the top of the streaming service's charts. Its popularity is likely due to its sleek action, but the cast of Ad Vitam and the star power of its French actors likely helped as well. While it may not be one of the best action movies on Netflix, Ad Vitam certainly makes for an entertaining watch.

For all of Ad Vitam's popularity, it didn't have the same success with critics or audiences. Ad Vitam has a critics score of 36% and an audience score of 35% on Rotten Tomatoes. Many of the reviewers criticized the movie's threadbare plot and the way the flashbacks slowed down the pace of the film. The meaning of the movie's title, however, can help add some substance to Ad Vitam's thin plot and give the movie a bit more significance. Understanding what Ad Vitam means in English may even change how you interpret the whole film.

Ad Vitam Means "For Life" In Latin

Ad Vitam Refers To Franck's Duty To Uphold The Law Throughout His Lifetime

Simply put, the Latin phrase "ad vitam" translates to "for life." In most contexts, like in the phrase "ad vitam aut culpam," that means for the entire duration of a person's lifetime rather than life as a concept. In the film, "ad vitam" was written on the back of the patch Franck got from his father after he became a member of the GIGN. In that context, it was meant to show how the duty and responsibility to protect other people associated with the GIGN was a lifelong commitment. Franck's father clearly believed that, and he wanted Franck to carry those ideals for his whole life as well.

Why "For Life" Is A Fitting Title For The French Movie On Netflix

Even After He Was Dismissed From The GIGN, Franck Couldn't Leave His Past Behind

Aside from being written on the back of the patch Franck got from his father, Ad Vitam is also a good title for the movie in general. The entirety of Ad Vitam is about how Franck can't outrun his past with the GIGN, and how he always has a duty to uphold the law even when he's not wearing the uniform. The entire reason Franck and Leo were targeted and Leo was kidnapped was because Franck still had the badge that contained the evidence needed to expose the French government's corruption. Franck's past literally caught up with him when the mercenaries kidnapped Leo.

Franck's past catching up with him wasn't all bad, however. It was precisely because Franck still had his lifelong commitment to uphold the law that he got a happy ending at the end of Ad Vitam. If he hadn't kept his badge, and if he hadn't been committed to exposing the French government's conspiracy, Franck would still be a disgraced GIGN officer who got his partner killed. Because he had a duty for life, however, Franck made France a better place, cleared his own name, and saved his wife and daughter at the end of Ad Vitam.