What Does the Title of Netflix’s ‘Ad Vitam’ Mean?

Ad Vitam has been climbing Netflix’s charts, leaving some viewers confused by the film’s title. The title of the movie is almost as mysterious as the film’s plot, which follows a former police officer who has to save his wife from kidnappers. The chase sends him through France, and he has to use his officer skills to track down the officers while also avoiding being framed.

The French thriller’s action-packed sequences and conspiracy-centered plot make the film’s historically based name even more intriguing. The title comes from a mixture of ancient Rome and legal terms throughout history, which seems odd for a thriller. However, the meaning of Ad Vitam connects very closely to what happens in the movie and has a deeper meaning that some viewers might miss.

Ad Vitam Is an Old Latin Phrase

Even though Ad Vitam is a French film, its title actually comes from Latin. In Latin, “ad vitam” translates to “for life.” Typically, “ad” is translated as the preposition “to” or “towards.” However, as part of the phrase “ad vitam aut culpam,” “ad” is translated as “for” which means “for life or fault.” The phrase has been used as a legal term throughout history to signify that someone is appointed to a position for the rest of their life or until they do something wrong.

In the film Ad Vitam, the main character Franck Lazareff sees the phrase written on the back of his badge as an elite French police officer. The badge first belonged to his father, who also served as an elite officer, and his father was the one who wrote “ad vitam” on the back of the badge.

The Deeper Meaning Behind the Title ‘Ad Vitam’

The phrase “for life” plays an important part in understanding Franck’s motivations in a few ways. The film shows him trying to rescue his wife, Leo, from kidnappers. As a devoted husband, he wants to protect her from dangers for the rest of her life, and thus, he goes after the kidnappers.

The film also reveals that Franck’s duty to protect his wife is deeper than marriage. Leo is pregnant and is nearly a month away from giving birth to a child. As someone who’s about to be a father, Franck feels committed to stopping the kidnappers to protect his future.

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Franck wouldn’t be able to do most of what he does in the film without his background as an elite police officer. Even though his time as a police officer was cut short when he made a mistake, Franck made a commitment to protect people. It was a commitment that was supposed to last for life, and it’s also another reason why he feels called to protect his wife.

Most importantly, by rescuing his wife, Franck returns to his normal, peaceful life. He was lucky, considering he was almost murdered by the kidnappers, but he wants his wife to be safe as well and share their life together. The badge which has “ad vitam” written on it is what saves him in the end, too, as the badge is used as evidence to get him out of jail and exonerate him from any crimes for which he was framed.

Why Do Audiences Love ‘Ad Vitam’ So Much?

Ad Vitam is a typical thriller with a romantic force that drives the plot and a deep character background. It’s also reminiscent of other French thrillers such as the classic Liam Neeson film Taken. Ad Vitam might not end up on many top 10 lists by the end of 2025, but it has just enough adrenaline to get audiences ready for the rest of the year.

Franck is trying to save his marriage with his wife Leo before she’s taken by kidnappers. His attempts to save her are bold and risky, and they make viewers want to see him rescue her. The fact that Leo also has a baby on the way makes audiences even more interested in her return to safety.

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There’s also an exciting layer of conspiracy happening in Ad Vitam. The kidnappers try to frame Franck, and Franck needs to dig through his past to find out why, adding some mystery to the film. The film’s flashbacks show his relationship with his wife, his acceptance into the elite police force, and the mistake that costs him his job with the police force. It’s an interesting way to develop the character’s backstory, which some action films often forget to do.

Ad Vitam may not be an Oscar-winner or the next Mission: Impossible, but the film is entertaining throughout its duration. Guillaume Canet is like a French Jason Statham or Gerard Butler as the film’s lead, and his character does some thrilling stunts in the film. Ad Vitam might not be remembered for life, but it’s certainly popular with Netflix viewers for now. Ad Vitam is now streaming on Netflix.