Mr. Nobody (2009)

A boy stands on a station platform as a train is about to leave. Should he go with his mother or stay with his father? Infinite possibilities arise from this decision. As long as he doesn't choose, anything is possible.

Director:

Jaco Van Dormael

Writer:

Jaco Van Dormael

Stars:

Jared Leto, Sarah Polley, Diane Kruger

11 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jared Leto	...	Nemo Adult / Old Nemo
Sarah Polley	...	Adult Elise
Diane Kruger	...	Anna Adult
Linh Dan Pham	...	Adult Jean (as Linh-Dan Pham)
Rhys Ifans	...	Father Nemo
Natasha Little	...	Mother Nemo
Toby Regbo	...	Nemo age 15
Juno Temple	...	Anna age 15
Clare Stone	...	Elise age 15
Thomas Byrne	...	Nemo age 9
Audrey Giacomini	...	Jean age 15
Laura Brumagne	...	Anna age 9
Allan Corduner	...	Dr. Feldheim
Daniel Mays	...	Young Journalist
Michael Riley	...	Harry

Storyline

In the year 2092, one hundred eighteen year old Nemo is recounting his life story to a reporter. He is less than clear, often times thinking that he is only thirty-four years of age. But his story becomes more confusing after he does focus on the fact of his current real age. He tells of his life at three primary points in his life: at age nine (when his parents divorced), age sixteen and age thirty-four. The confusing aspect of the story is that he tells of alternate life paths, often changing course with the flick of a decision at each of those ages. One life path has him ultimately married to Elise, a depressed woman who never got over the unrequited love she had for a guy named Stefano when she was a teenager and who asked Nemo to swear that when she died he would sprinkle her ashes on Mars. A second life path has him married to Jean. Their life is one of luxury but one also of utter boredom. And a third life path has him in a torrid romance with his step-sister Anna, the two who,...

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Plot Keywords:

multiple outcomes | nonlinear timeline | butterfly effect | stepbrother stepsister relationship | time | 

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Taglines:

Nothing is real, everything is possible.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality/nudity, brief strong language and violent images.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Belgium Germany Canada France USA UK

Language:

English Mohawk

Release Date:

26 September 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gospodin Niko

Filming Locations:

Japanese Garden, Hasselt, Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

$47,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,612, 3 November 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,600, 1 December 2013

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,331,721, 30 May 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pan Européenne, Virtual Films, Christal Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

141 min 138 min 157 min (Director's Cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The train station where young Nemo had to choose between staying with his mother and father is named "Chance".

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Goofs

Nemo says the angel missed him and that is why he can "remember" the future, but he has the philtrum (depression between nose and upper lip) that only the angel's touch would have given him.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nemo Nobody adult: Like most living creatures, the pigeon quickly associates the pressing of the level with the reward. But when a timer releases a seed automatically every 20 seconds, the pigeon wonders, what did I do to deserve this? If it was flapping its wings at the time, it will continue to flap, convinced that its actions have the decisive influence on what happens. We call this "pigeon superstition".
Nemo Nobody adult: [cut to Nemo on a gurney] What did I do to deserve this?

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Alternate Versions

The currently available DVD version runs for 141 min, while the Toronto International Film Festival runs for 138 min.

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Connections

References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

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Soundtracks

What Power Art Thou
Composed by Henry Purcell
Arrangement and Interpretation Eugénie De Mey (as Eugenie de Mey)
Recording Aline Blondiau
Courtesy of Somebody Production

User Reviews

Unforgettable

This is the kind of film you don't see too often. It is truly a visual masterpiece. I haven't heard about this french director, but "Mr Nobody" really blew my mind in all its images, dreams, romance and complexity. The movie has similarities to films by Michel Gondry but i think this film was more magical. Dreamlike and existential films. Some might think Mr Nobody is too complex, too demanding. It is not for everyone, but I loved it. Like other surreal movies, Peter Jacksons "The Lovely Bones", and "Synechdohe: New York" "Dr. Parnassus", "Micmacs"- these dreamlike and "difficult" films must be terribly expensive to produce and I ask myself how can the companies go through with these productions? These flicks never generate big box office money. Im amazed that they still make this kinds of demanding visual movies for cinema. And glad.

I discovered the greatness of Jared Leto as an actor when he played John Lennons Killer in Chapter 23. That was a truly disturbing and amazing acting of a disturbed fanatic loner. Mr Nobody is however the role of his life! If you like this kinds of movies I recommend "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind", "Synechdohe: New York" and "THE FOUNTAIN". They really make you think!