Movie Review by EDF
Starring: Eduardo Noriega, Anna Mouglalis, Nathalie Richard, Eric Caravaca
Director: Jean-Pierre Limosin
Every now and then, a movie comes along that is so fresh and different, that other filmmakers come up with their own version of that theme. NOVO takes its cue from MEMENTO and this time the theme is basically a love story of sorts. Spanish actor Eduardo Noriega tries his hand out on a French movie and pulls it off convincingly but is the script as good as MEMENTO?
Office worker Graham (Eduardo Noriega) produces photocopies in a busy office environment. He is asked by his boss to show Irene (Anna Mouglalis), the new temp girl, around the office. He takes her up to the roof where she has a mishap with her bra. Then Irene has a mishap in the ladies toilet where she cuts her hand and Graham leads her to the office infirmary. Later, Irene asks Graham over for dinner and Graham requests that she write her address on his office white board.
Irene promises Graham a night he will never forget and the next morning he wakes up with his notebook informing him that he would be waking up at Irene’s place. It turns out that Graham is suffering from constant memory loss. On Tuesdays, he visits a clinic where they monitor his condition by showing him pictures of famous people and pictures from his own personal life. It turns out that Graham’s real name is Pablo. Here we find out that he has a house, wife and son but Graham does not remember any of this.
Irene turns up at Graham’s apartment and re-introduces herself just as if they were on a first date. However when Graham’s jealous boss Sabine (Nathalie Richard) fires Irene, Graham informs Sabine that he is getting his memory back and that he is quitting his job. News of this filters through to Pablo’s wife Isabelle (Paz Vega) and she asks Irene for her continued help in restoring Pablo to her. Irene decides to end her relationship with Graham.
The main leads are well cast and the chemistry between Graham and Irene is believable enough. There is a lot of nudity during this movie but this does not detract from the story. The message that the writers are trying to put forward is that there can only be a sense of real freedom when you have nothing on in your mind that can turn you into a prisoner. You might pick that up during the movie or you might not because you will spend the rest of the time wondering if they will ever expand on the other story threads. Good but not satisfying.
