Review: ‘Nobody Knows I’m Here’ With Jorge Garcia Is An “Indie Gem”

Now streaming on Netflix, Nobody Knows I’m Here is a promising feature debut by Gaspar Antillo. The film centers around Memo, played with nearly wordless subtlety by Jorge Garcia (Lost), who has nearly become a total recluse. Memo lives with his uncle on an isolated sheep farm in Southern Chile. 

Memo (Jorge Garcia) has become a near recluse, spending his down-timen taking a boat across the river to live out an alternate life, in the vacant houses of richer, more successful people. He also sews a glittering, patchwork outfit, imagining himself a famous singer. You see, when Memo was younger, he was discovered for his beautiful singing voice. But, due to his larger size, the powers-that-be thought his voice would be much more marketable if lip-synched by someone with more teen-heartthrob potential. This past, revealed through brief flashbacks, informs the sad and solitary life Memo currently inhabits.

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Soon, Marta (Millaray Lobos) enters his life, shows an interest in Memo, slowly drawing him out of his shell. But, the plot doesn’t lead down the well-worn romance path. This movie is always focused on the frustrating, nuanced, and nearly silent performance of Garcia. The relationship between Memo and Marta is more of a tentative friendship that is always on the verge of collapse.

Nobody Knows I’m Here is the sort of indie gem that Netflix is built for, allowing a wider audience to see a fine performance in a film that would undoubtedly be difficult to sell to a mass audience. If you are up for a slow burn, subtle character study, check this out.