Lanthimos is back with a short and bitter story of identity theft which makes you tread wearily through the world after the credits roll
“Excuse me, do you have the time?” Yorogos Lanthimos’ newest short film Nimic has struck the fear of never leaving my home without wearing a watch in me. Among the plethora of stolen identity films, this is one of my favourites because it executes this simple idea in such an effective and potent way.
A person follows you home, into your home and family and replaces you.
It’s exactly what I expected this film to formally be, just a condensed Lanthimos film with even denser emotions and surreality, coruscating imperceptibly through the screen at you. His divine natural lighting is as if the photons bend to his will and stay suspended exactly where he wants them to. Under these brightly lit streets dwell a sort of psychosis that’s out to get you, ready to take your place and leave you ridden of all you have over one small question. But this psychotic world has a subtlety to it, the fish-eyed lens sends this reality slightly askew and you wouldn’t be able to tell at first glance but as the camera takes a stride back to take in the expanse of the streets with its wider angles, you really get a feel of how wonky this place is.
The ambient sounds of the film are menacing to say the least, this is what I’d imagine pervades the ears of an insane person whose mind is beyond the reaches of hell. Giving me eerie Hannibal vibrations, the soundscape is so rich with texture and depth that it made the devilish impressions of the world seem even more savage.
The twist at the end leaves you short of breath and makes you wonder, who replaced the woman at the start of the film and whether this is an unstoppable cycle of identity theft.
Be careful of stranger danger people!
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