NOVO

France, 2002, 98 minutes, Colour.
Eduardo Noriega, Anna Mougialis, Natalie Richard, Eric Caravaca, Paz Vega, Leny Bueno.
Directed by Jean- Pierre Limousin.

Novo is a drama with comic touches or a comedy with dramatic touches.

The focus is on a young man suffering from amnesia. He thinks he is Graham and works in an office, doing all kinds of jobs, at the beck and call of the manager, Sabine, who exploits him sexually even though she knows who he is and what his background is.

His background is that he is married to Isabelle, Paz Vega, and has a son, Antoine. They try to keep tabs on him, hoping that he will regain his memory. His wife tends to keep out of his way. He has some encounters with his son, liking the young boy and, finally, a lengthy cavorting on the beach with him. A friend, Fred, Eric Caravaca, follows him, trying to keep an eye on him, helping with his memory – although Fred is in love with Graham’s wife.

In fact, Graham is actually Pablo and there are some scenes where he reverts to being Pablo, especially in discussions with doctors and counsellors.

With a nod to such stories as that of Groundhog Day, the film has Graham/Pablo not retaining much of his immediate memory at all, writing notes to himself, trying to establish indications that will remind him.

Into the office comes a young woman, Irene, Anna Mougialis, whom he shows around, pays attention to, goes out with. She becomes infatuated with him and they develop a relationship, his family being aware of this but hoping it will lead to a memory gain. This means that there are some dramatic and romantic interludes, the pathos of Graham/Pablo not remembering and having to establish the relationship over and over again – while there are indications that this relationship is helping him to get some memories back.

Eduardo Noriega was at the beginning of an international career. The screenplay was co-written by the director and ChristophHonore?, his own films later had some preoccupations with sexuality, Ma Mere, Love Songs, Dans Paris. The film is quite explicit in his presentation of the love scenes, the erotic experiences, and a forthright presentation of male and female nudity.