Inside

Nemo recounts his childhood where a teacher asked him to choose three things to save from a house fire. He picked his cat, an AC/DC record, and his sketchbook, reflecting his values of loyalty, music, and art. The cat died, and the record was lent out and not returned, but he still keeps his sketchbook, emphasizing the idea that art is for keeps.

Disguised as a handyman, Nemo plans to break into a Manhattan penthouse belonging to a wealthy art collector. His goal is to steal three works by Egon Schiele, although he fails to find Schiele's self-portrait during the intrusion. His preparations involve navigating the apartment’s security system and challenges.

Nemo’s attempt to steal the artwork triggers the security system, sealing the apartment in lockdown. His contacts abandon him, and he finds himself trapped inside with no immediate escape options, facing mounting frustration and danger as he tries to find a way out.

A broken thermostat causes the apartment’s temperature to fluctuate wildly, making survival increasingly difficult. Nemo struggles to find food and water, which are scarce, with only timed sprinklers in an indoor garden providing some moisture, intensifying his physical and mental suffering.

Nemo observes a pigeon trapped on the patio after his entry through bird netting. Over time, the pigeon starves and dies while Nemo watches helplessly, symbolizing his own entrapment and the consequences of his actions.

Weeks pass as Nemo remains trapped, growing hungrier and more injured due to failed escape attempts. He tries to reach the skylight by building a scaffold from furniture, showing his increasing obsession and desperation to escape the confinement.

Nemo becomes obsessed with Jasmine, a young housekeeper he's watched via security cameras on the apartment television. Multiple scenes show her outside the door, unaware of his desperate calls and banging, because she is listening to earphones, which deepens his loneliness and frustration.

Nemo finds a concealed passage in a closet that leads to a room containing the Schiele self-portrait and a collection of Werke von William Blake's 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell'. This discovery represents his obsession with art and his longing to access what is hidden or forbidden.

To survive, Nemo eats fish from the aquarium and dog food, which damages his teeth and causes hallucinations. His health declines sharply as he attempts to remove the skylight bolts but falls and breaks his leg, worsening his physical state and mental stability.

As his situation worsens, Nemo creates artwork on the walls, studies the apartment's art collection, and confronts his obsession with destruction and creation. His mental state deteriorates amidst the chaos and isolation, symbolizing his internal struggle.

Nemo sets off a smoke alarm attempting to attract help, flooding the apartment with water in the process. Despite his efforts, no outside help arrives, reinforcing his deep isolation and despair.

He leaves a wall note explaining his story and apologizing for his destructive actions, asserting that destruction is part of creation. His final message emphasizes his belief that he has preserved three pieces of art in his actions.

The film ends with a view of the scaffolding and open skylight, suggesting Nemo finally escaped. A shadow seen through the skylight implies that he has broken free from his physical and emotional imprisonment, symbolizing liberation.