Watch Chronic

Chronic is a moving and poignant drama film that tells the story of David (Tim Roth), a devoted and compassionate nurse who provides palliative care to terminally ill patients. The movie is directed by Michel Franco, who is known for his emotionally charged and visually poetic work in cinema. Chronic premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, where it earned critical acclaim and recognition for its raw and honest portrayal of grief and mortality.

David is an introverted and reserved man who spends most of his time caring for his patients. He is meticulous in his work and goes above and beyond to ensure that his patients are comfortable and dignified. He has a strong bond with some of his patients, including Sarah (Robin Bartlett), a cancer patient who is terrified of dying, and Jennifer (Nailea Norvind), a young woman with muscular dystrophy who relies on David for emotional and physical support.

However, despite his best efforts, David is haunted by the memories of his past. He is struggling to come to terms with the death of his own wife, which has left him emotionally scarred and unable to connect with people on a deeper level. David's grief manifests itself in his work, where he tries to control every aspect of his patients' lives, going as far as to interfere in their personal relationships.

David's inner turmoil becomes more apparent when he meets a young girl named Nadia (Sarah Sutherland), who has recently lost her mother to cancer. David becomes obsessed with Nadia and starts to follow her, attends her grief counseling sessions and even tries to adopt her. Nadia is confused by David's behavior and becomes increasingly uncomfortable around him.

As the movie progresses, David's obsession with Nadia becomes more destructive, and his behavior starts to impact his work, his relationship with his patients, and his own mental health. He becomes increasingly isolated and detached from the people around him, and the line between caring for his patients and exploiting their vulnerability begins to blur.

The movie features outstanding performances from the cast, particularly Tim Roth, who delivers a restrained and nuanced portrayal of a man trying to make sense of his grief. The cinematography is also exceptional, with Franco using long takes and static shots to convey the sense of loneliness and isolation that the characters are experiencing.

Chronic is not an easy movie to watch, but it is a thought-provoking and deeply moving exploration of loss, grief, and the human condition. It challenges the viewer's assumptions about empathy and compassion, and asks difficult questions about the ethics of end-of-life care. Franco has crafted a film that is somber, yet illuminative, and one that will stay with the viewer long after the credits have rolled.

Chronic is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 69.