Nobody Knows I’m Here
NETFLIXIn a new take on the “delusional, marginalised character who ends up on a talk show” storyline, Gaspar Antillo crafts an intimate and engaging tale on lost success in his feature-length debut. Nobody Knows I’m Here introduces us to Memo Garrido – played by Jorge Garcia, a familiar face to Lost and Weezer fans – a quiet recluse who works as a sheep farmer with his uncle Braulio (Luis Gnecco), and cannot escape his past. Memo was on his way to becoming an iconic child singer with a powerful voice, until a record executive (Roberto Vander) convinces his father Jacinto (Alejandro Goic) that Memo does not have the teen idol look. Memo ends up being a ghost singer for the handsome Angelo Casos (Gaston Pauls), until he snaps and injures Angelo, ending both of their singing careers. Memo retreats from the spotlight to his uncle’s peaceful sheep farm, but still dreams about the fame he could’ve had if his father had not agreed to a ghost singer career.
Memo lives in a small, run-down shack on a grey, empty island, brought to life with cold, distant wide shots, but dreams of the singer he could’ve been in a sickly pink neon. Jorge Garcia is phenomenal in his first role as a dramatic single lead, using his body language to convey his longing and frustration. The sense of rejection Memo feels is portrayed amazingly by the actor, who is willing to enact his fantasies in private, but appearing miserable and unwilling to open up to anyone. Memo looks free and happy when he enraptures himself in his dream, dancing to himself in neon lights, but looks mortified when Marta (Millaray Lobos) – the niece of the tailor Memo and Braulio provide wool for – notices his sparkling painted fingernails. A career as a singer is Memo’s dream , but the only way he can live it is through maladaptive daydreaming, because of his appearance and his actions. The fame Memo craves becomes vivid and real with the use of the sickly pink lighting and the hard cuts between his past memories and his lonely present.
Marta, played by Lobos to be believably excessively friendly and nosy, hears Memo sing and decides to post the footage online, causing a media firestorm that questions the validity of Angelo’s career. Memo is frustrated by this betrayal and the paparazzi stalking that comes with it, through various grainy shots of cameramen trying to find Memo. The pressure gets to Memo as he distances himself more, burns his home-made singer’s outfit, and has a mysterious nightmare of puking up pink glittery liquid. Memo is forced to confront both his father and Angelo, looking to take advantage of Memo again for their own benefit, in exceptionally sleazy performances from Goic and Pauls. The climax takes place on a talk show looking to get the story straight between Angelo and Memo, but if it worked in Memo’s favour is left up to the audience to decide.
Nobody Knows I’m Here is a strong piece as a result of its use of harsh contrast to convey the thoughts and feelings of a character who barely speaks. One minute Memo is in a wide shot of his dark shack, but the next he is dancing in a close-up lit up by a gaudy hot pink. One minute Memo is quietly upset by the sight of Angelo’s image, to the point of violently flipping a table, but the next he is doe-eyed and apologetic to Marta for having to witness his frustration. His quiet, open, bright farm where he seems to have found his peace is contrasted by the tight, cluttered, dark backstage areas of the singing shows in his memories and the talk show that will determine his future. The haunting, harsh minimalist score by Carlos Cabezas is contrasted with the horns and drum machines that play in Memo’s dreams and memories. Memo’s journey is exceptional because of how his reality is presented and how visceral his ambition is .
Garcia as Memo earns his status a lovable protagonist, despite mistakes and flaws. This sense of empathy makes the investment of watching his story worthwhile, over the slow-burn pacing of the film. Antillo is patient with unfolding the information about Memo’s circumstances, so once the situation explodes out of control, the audience can still feel it – even if the camera is limited to Memo’s perspective. Overall, it is safe to say NETFLIX’s first foray into Chilean film has paid off with a talented writer-director taking his time with his story and his characters, played by an exceptional cast who accomplish much with limited dialogue and action. Nobody Knows I’m Here is a gem for foreign film fans looking for a well-made character study and hopefully will become part of the canon of exceptional South-American filmmaking.
