A man’s amnesia enables two people to explore love and identity in Nobody Has to Know, the latest feature from Belgian actor, writer, and director Bouli Lanners.
When Phil (Lanners), a Belgian farmhand living on a remote Scottish island, experiences amnesia after suffering a stroke, his boss’ daughter Millie (Michelle Fairley) helps him adapt to his new circumstances and familiarize himself with his old life. It is evident that Phil was and is a private person, as Millie is unable to answer certain questions about his family and his past. Millie describes herself as a friend but seems somewhat nervous and tense around Phil, as if she’s withholding some key information. Phil, meanwhile, connects easily with Millie and seems glad for her companionship. Eventually, Millie reaches a breaking point and tells Phil they were secret lovers for several months prior to his stroke. This provides the two with the freedom to reconnect romantically, but as the story progresses we uncover Millie’s deceit.
Phil’s character is introduced as a solitary figure and an outsider on the island, with no family and no real social connections aside from Millie and her nephew Brian (Andrew Still), with whom Phil works. Phil’s boss, Millie’s domineering father, doesn’t bother to hide his dislike of Phil. Amnesia provides Phil a certain freedom he didn’t have before—it unburdens him from past regrets, unhappy memories, and societal notions about him, leaving him free to create new bonds and relationships as well as a new place for himself on the island. It’s an opportunity for a second chance at life, in many ways. Most importantly, it encourages him to act on his romantic feelings for Millie—particularly once Millie shares her secret about their past. It resonates with his feelings and their connection in his eyes, and he confidently moves forward with rekindling their romance, only questioning why they had kept it a secret affair.
Nobody Has to Know is tender as well as somewhat melancholy, a bittersweet look at life and love on a weather-beaten remote island with a small population. The film’s palette is comprised of many greys, blacks, and muted natural hues, reflecting the loneliness, isolation, and harsh realities of the protagonists’ lives. Although amnesia provides some freedom, in other ways it heightens Phil’s sense of loneliness, prompting him to search for stronger connections in a way it seems he never did prior to the stroke. First, he latches onto his connection with a dog he discovers in his house despite realizing the dog is not actually his. He reconnects somewhat with Brian, but feels disconnected from their work—at the end of his first day back on the farm, Phil asks Millie if he does that work every day. It’s natural that Phil turns to Millie for companionship; not only does she care for him, they are also connected by their solitude within the community. As their romantic relationship grows and strengthens, they find a shared sense of peace and a youthful energy that offers a brighter future.
Phil and Millie’s newfound joy in life and each other is threatened by several obstacles, including the return of Phil’s memories, the truth of his shared past with Millie, and the arrival of Phil’s brother. Much like its visual palette, however, the slow-burn story largely contains muted drama; the impending obstacles are resolved in an anti-climactic manner despite their narrative build-up. In a way, the resolution is reflective of the characters’ maturity and their desire to simply hold onto the genuine love they found with each other, particularly in light of their previous loneliness within the island community. Nobody Has to Know then throws one final punch that upends the narrative and the characters’ lives in a tragic dramatic twist. It’s a bittersweet ending that initially feels abrupt, but ultimately ties in well with the film’s themes.
Lanners and Fairley both give solid, understated performances that capture their characters’ vulnerability and quiet perseverance. The somewhat languid pacing of the narrative reflects life on the island as portrayed in the film and savours each moment along the way.
Written and directed by Lanners, Nobody Has to Know had its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Score: B-