A Slow Burn That Hits The Right Notes
To say Nobody Knows I’m Here is a slow burn would be an understatement. A lot of the film plays on ideas of quiet reflection and resentment, captured beautifully through Jorge Garcia’s haunted expressions and flashes to a traumatic past. Because of this emphasis on thought provoking drama and quietly building tension, a lot of the film plays off long shots and silent scenes that give the film a much longer feel. The ending does make the ride worth it though and if you can go into this with some patience, the film rewards you in the best possible way with a wonderful drama.
The story revolves around a man named Memo, living on a remote island and working as a farmer. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, it soon becomes apparent that more is hiding under the surface of this mentally scarred man. Armed with a beautiful singing voice, his dreams are tarnished by the overshadowed presence of his superstar brother. When a young woman arrives at the island, everything changes for Memo and this sets the stage for what follows.
Interestingly, the title “Nobody Knows I’m Here” actually works as a double entendre; nobody knows Memo is hiding out on this Chilean island while the main song that haunts Memo’s past, aptly titled “Nobody Knows I’m Here”, shows that no one knows the true face behind the voice. It’s a clever idea and one that’s accompanied by some neat stylistic choices too.
The colour red is used throughout this film too (the colour of extremes) and regularly changes its meaning to one of anger or love. There’s some lovely moments that capture Memo infront of the mirror too (bringing back those ideas of reflecting on one’s past), and all of this builds up to one particularly striking scene showing Memo vomiting red, glittery bile. Despite the grotesqueness of what’s happening, this symbolic gesture really captures, in such a raw form, that physical manifestation of disgust Memo has been feeling for such a long time and how his emotions are finally spilling out.
Nobody Knows I’m Here won’t be a film for everyone. Those going into this expecting a lot of twists and turns, fast-paced drama or even a dramatic showdown at the end will be left disappointed. Instead, Nobody Knows I’m Here leans into its character-driven study and allows Jorge Garcia to come into his own and bring this multi-faceted character to life. The acting is excellent and the film’s narrative is tightly woven to bring the best out of the cast. If you can go into this with a bit of patience and are in the mood for a slow-burn, this one is well worth a watch.
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Verdict - 8/10
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