NOBODY FROM NOWHERE/ UN ILLUSTRE INCONNU

France, 2014, 118 minutes, Colour.
Mathieu Kassovitz, Marie- Jose Croze, Eric Caravaca, Diego Le Martret, Siobhan Finneran, Philippe Duclos.
Directed by Matthieu Teleport.

Here is a very interesting film with a strong French title but a witty and clever English adaptation title.

French actor-director, Mathieu Kassovitz, who has built up a reputation in both areas, plays Sebastien, a middle-aged real estate agent, living alone, very organised and efficient, who is seen setting up a suicide scenario, writing a note, causing the gas explosion destroying his apartment. The film then goes into flashback mode.

The film builds up his character, his discussions with a priest about himself and his lack of faith, later going to see the priest again to discuss his life. While we see him at work, the audience discovers that he is observant of characters, takes on their identities, not only with make up and wigs, but also studying posture, walking manner, voice intonations. He does various experiments until he is asked by the personal assistant of a violinist who has experienced an accident with his fingers to find him accommodation.

He is intrigued by the violinist and his curt manner, decides to take on his identity, reinforced when he finds the man has hanged himself. This gives him the opportunity to recreate the violinist life, his relationship with a woman with whom he had an affair and the son whom he had not known.

The twist in the middle of the film is that after the violinist has hanged himself, Sebastien then creates the suicide situation to give the impression that he has been killed while he is getting rid of the violinist body. However, police and detectives continue their pursuit. While Sebastien enjoys impersonating the violinist and making his life for the better, especially encouraging the son and his violin playing, he also has a sense of justice and decides to hand himself over to the police.

The acting is a tour de force for Mathieu Kassovitz who takes on both roles.

1. The title? Strong drama? Allegory?

2. The French city, homes, streets, offices? The church? Luxury accommodation? The countryside? Atmosphere? Score?

3. The introduction to Sebastien, his apartment, preparing the suicide, writing the note? The flashback to lead up to the suicide? The twist in the plot? The return to this scene and the subsequent action?

4. Sebastien, his age, single, hard work, tidy and thorough, his relationship with his family, his mother? Commenting about his being a non-practising Catholic? The talk with the priest at the funeral, later going to him for advice? His image of himself? His later going to the funeral and the significance of the priest’s eulogy and description of him?

5. His work, real estate, showing clients apartments? The encounters, his noting speech and ways of moving, walking? His own identity, then applying the make up, transforming himself, studying people, their manner, their voice? Going to the situations? Assuming the person, voice and posture?

6. The effect on the audience, trying to understand his character?

7. His contacts, his work in the firm, the company, at the office, his reputation?

8. The violinist, his assistant, her interviewing him, the specifics of her request? Henri and his secret? His going to see, the meeting, the violinist’s intolerance, his attitudes, his liking Sebastien, accepting him?

9. Henri, his career, the violin, love of music, from childhood, training, playing with his back to the audience, engrossed in his music, spurning others? His life, fears? Not knowing about his son? The accident, the loss of his fingers? Retiring? His crotchety manner and impatience? Going to the city, then wanting to change, the prospect of going to Spain? The meetings with Sebastien, Sebastien knowing about his life, the detail, the mother with her child? Hearing on his attitude towards his assistant and humiliating her?

10. His decision to become Henri, in his house, studying him, learning, the dangers, getting out in time, the woman and her son, creating Henri’s life, changing his life? Finding Henri hanging, hiding the body? In his car, getting rid of the body, the setting up of the explosion in Sebastien’s apartment? People assuming that it was Sebastien dead? The note?

11. Sebastien in his new life, having made friends with the woman, with her son, breaking the hostility, the outings, the bonding, affection, Sebastien as a new person? The new Henri?

12. The visit of the detective, the interviews, the list of phone calls, the explanations? The police and their suspicions?

13. The boy, his recital, his mother’s happiness? Henri’s happiness? The letter to his son, reading?

14. Sebastien attending his own funeral, the reactions of his family?

15. The police, Sebastien making a decision about his responsibility, giving himself up, justice, paying the price, going to prison?

16. An exploration of identity, of personality, of life and existence?