Mr Nobody

Mr Nobody

I have never been a fan of science fiction or fantasy. I was prepared to be disappointed. If a film is too confusing I get frustrated and do not like the feeling of being stupid. Mr. Nobody played at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.

In many ways I found the film extremely creative and quite brilliant. It was entertaining and well produced.

We meet Mr. Nobody (called Nemo) as an aged man living in the year 2092. He is on some place in outer space. He is the last living mortal. A psychiatrist tries to interview Mr. Nobody to learn his life story. The psychiatrist has black geometric designs on his face and is a bizarre looking person. A journalist also tries to get the story.

The film goes back and forth from earlier times and we learn a lot about Mr. Nobody.(Nemo)

One of the most dramatic scenes takes us back to when Nemo was 9 years old. His parents were divorcing. Both parents were standing at a train station. They were asking Nemo to decide if he will leave on the train with his mother or stay with his father. It was very moving and that scene seems to have been a profound moment in his life.

At times the film shows him with his mother and how that develops as he gets older. We also see him staying with his father and the person he becomes with him. Confusing yes but it is a film technique that works. It was never frustrated because you realize what is happening and go along wherever the story takes you.

We meet three women who played an important parting his life.

One of the women he meets is his great love. Her name is Anna. He meets her when his mother brings home a new man. Anna is his daughter. The mother and lover move in together and Anna and Nemo have a sexual relationship and are fast friends. When the couple separate Anna moves with her father to New York. The two try to meet on occasion but it doesn’t really work out.

I particularly enjoyed the sequence with his third lady. Sarah Polley plays the part of his wife. She is having a nervous break down and feels like a loser. Her acting is fantastic and very dramatic. Nemo stays with her and is comforting and kind.

The film goes from outer space back to his past life and then back to the so called present. (Which is really the future)

All the performers were excellent. The storyline is so creative and thought provoking. I marvel at the imagination of the writer and director.