Mr. Nobody (2009)

The science fiction drama film, Mr. Nobody (2009), written and directed by Jaco Van Dormael, follows the life of Nemo Nobody. As the last mortal on Earth in a world where humans have achieved quasi-immortality, 118-year-old Nemo’s memories are fading. He shares his life story with a doctor and journalist, discussing his three main loves and the impact of his parents’ divorce on his journey. Throughout the film, the speculative narrative explores alternate life paths resulting from different decisions made by Nemo at ages nine, fifteen, and thirty-four. With a nonlinear structure incorporating the multiverse hypothesis, Mr. Nobody offers a unique perspective on Nemo’s existence.

Life with his mother. Nemo moves to Montreal with his mother and soon becomes infatuated with a new girl, Anna, at his school. However, their relationship is quickly cut short when Nemo insults her friends during a beach outing. In an alternate timeline, Nemo reveals to Anna that he cannot swim and they spend time together instead. Nemo later discovers that Anna is the daughter of his mother’s partner Harry, and they become step-siblings. The two fall in love and make a commitment to each other. However, when Harry and Nemo’s mother split up, Anna moves to New York with her father and the teenagers lose touch. Despite this, Nemo never gives up hope of seeing Anna again one day as he continues working as a pool cleaner.

Life with his father. Nemo remains in England with his father, who eventually becomes disabled. During his teenage years, he takes on a job at a shop and occupies his spare time by crafting a science fiction tale about a voyage to Mars. At a school dance, he meets Elise and falls deeply for her. However, when he later witnesses her with her older partner at her home, he becomes upset and zooms off on his motorbike. Tragically, this results in a severe accident that leaves him hospitalized in a comatose state. Despite his physical limitations, Nemo’s senses are still intact and he is able to witness his parents’ reconciliation at his bedside. With the assistance of imaginative hands on an imaginary typewriter, he continues to develop his story. In an alternate reality, Nemo converses with Elise at her residence where she confesses her affection for Stefano even though she is aware it is not reciprocated.

Epilogue. Prior to his passing, elderly Nemo confides in the journalist that they are both mere figments of 9-year-old Nemo’s imagination. The young boy had been torn between his parents at the train station and was struggling to make a decision that would shape his life. In an attempt to determine the best choice, he considered potential outcomes for each option. In the end, he made a third choice and left both parents behind as he embarked on an uncertain future. On his deathbed, Nemo reminisces about meeting Anna again at the lighthouse.