Ava 2020

Ava Faulkner, played by Jessica Chastain, is a woman of complexity—a recovering addict, a former soldier, and now an assassin. The narrative unfolds as Ava meticulously devises a plan to kidnap her latest target, an English businessman named Peter Hamilton, portrayed by Ioan Gruffudd. Disguised as his chauffeur, she picks him up at the airport and proceeds to the serene French countryside, where the tension begins to heighten. As they drive, Ava appears to seduce him, eventually maneuvering the car into the wilderness where she climbs into the back seat, poised for her lethal task.

Before she delivers the fatal blow, Ava confronts Hamilton with a question that will unravel the narrative: why is someone after him? Unbeknownst to Ava, a woman has been shadowing her, eavesdropping on the crucial conversation that reveals Hamilton’s financial misconduct, including money laundering and election tampering. Ava reports the successful hit to her handler, Duke, and plans a trip to Boston.

Upon her arrival in Boston, Ava reconnects with her estranged family—her sister Judy, acted by Jess Weixler, and her hospitalized mother Bobbi, played by Geena Davis. This bittersweet reunion is laced with anxiety as Ava has not seen them in eight long years, and she is unaware that her every move is being meticulously tracked. The narrative delves deep into Ava’s past, revealing her transformation from a straight-A student to a soldier who succumbs to a life of addiction following a tragic accident where she lost her will to live.

Duke, who is not merely a handler but also her former army superior, sends Ava on yet another high-stakes mission to Saudi Arabia, where she is tasked with eliminating a German general implicated in illegal arms sales. The operation is shrouded in urgency and the need for discretion, as Duke reminds Ava: “This has to look like natural causes.” Ava executes the mission skillfully but faces an unforeseen complication when her cover is blown. A frantic gunfight ensues, leading to chaos and her hurried escape from Riyadh, but not without her photograph catching the attention of the authorities.

The film intensifies as Ava seeks refuge on the Normandy coast, but her brief solace is shattered when Duke delivers sobering news—the botched operation was due to bad intel, a mistake that cannot be repeated. During a reunion with Michael, played by Common, her former fiancé who is now entangled with her sister Judy, the emotional stakes rise. As they reminisce, Ava reflects on her tumultuous past and the family dynamics that have grown strained due to her absence.

Across the ocean in British Columbia, Duke meets with his superior, Simon, played by Colin Farrell. In a twist of fate, it is revealed that Simon sees Ava as a liability, orchestrating events to ensure her demise. This treachery leads to a confrontation that causes shockwaves through Ava’s already turbulent existence. As peril surrounds her, she must grapple with past demons while facing an uncertain future.

As the dramatic tension peaks, Ava is thrust into a violent confrontation against Simon and his associates, which culminates in her successfully removing the obstacles that threaten her life and the people she loves. Her journey becomes one not merely of survival but of redemption, as she seeks to protect her sister and reclaim her life. With her heart heavy for the loss of Duke, who sacrificed much for her sake, Ava offers her sister a way out, providing her with a financial lifeline to secure their escape from the turmoil.

In the end, as the dust settles and Ava strides emphatically toward her next chapter, she becomes poignantly aware that while the ghosts of her past may shadow her, she is determined to reclaim her narrative. However, a sense of foreboding lingers, as she finds herself being stalked by Camille, Simon’s daughter, teasing the possibility that Ava’s fight may not be over just yet.