Mr. Nobody

Mr. Nobody

Year: 2009

Runtime: 141 mins

Language: English

Director: Jaco Van Dormael

RomanceDramaScience FictionHumanity and the world around usMoving relationship stories

The story follows Nemo Nobody, a seemingly ordinary man with a wife and three children, who suddenly finds himself awakened a century later as a frail centenarian in 2092, confronting a world where his past choices blur and the line between reality and possibility dissolves.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Mr. Nobody (2009)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Mr. Nobody (2009). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

2092

2092 marks a future where humanity has conquered mortality. Nemo Nobody, now 118 years old, confronts death while his life is recalled through memories from ages 9, 15 and 34. The narrative oscillates between the present near-death scenes and these younger ages, blurring the lines between memory and possible futures.

Location

Montreal, England, New York, Mars, Lighthouse, Television Studio

Montreal serves as Nemo's early life backdrop after his parents' divorce. The story also traverses England and New York across different timelines, showing how each setting influences Nemo's memory and choices. Recurring sites like a lighthouse and a voyage to Mars frame the surreal sections, emphasizing the film's geography of memory and possibility.

🇨🇦 Canada 🗺️ Multi-location 🎬 Sci‑Fi 💔 Family drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:12

Main Characters – Mr. Nobody (2009)

Meet the key characters of Mr. Nobody (2009), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Nemo Nobody (Adult / Old) - Jared Leto

The central consciousness who, at 118 years old, is nearing death. His memories come in conflicting timelines from ages 9, 15, and 34, making his past feel multiple and interwoven. He explains that before birth there were Angels of Oblivion, yet he claims to remember possible futures, guiding the reader through the narrative. His struggle to discern which version of his life is true drives the story's mystery.

🧠 Memory-driven 🕰️ Aging 🎭 Identity

Anna (Adult) - Diane Kruger

Nemo's love interest across several timelines. Their relationship spans a teenage moment at the beach to a tense reunion at a lighthouse, with her feelings shifting as memories diverge. She remains enigmatic and sometimes distant, reflecting how memory and time complicate affection.

💖 Love interest 🎭 Complex character 💔 Distance

Elise (Adult) - Sarah Polley

Nemo's love in the England timeline, whose relationship with Nemo is entangled with Stefano. Elise experiences intense emotional fluctuations and, depending on the timeline, dies on her wedding day or leaves Nemo to pursue Stefano. Her presence underscores how love and mental health intersect with memory.

❤️ Love interest 🎭 Complex character 💔 Depression

Nemo's Father - Rhys Ifans

A disabled father figure who influences Nemo's early life and imagination. The relationship between father and son shapes Nemo's sense of family and his storytelling urges while living in England. This bond anchors one strand of Nemo's complicated sense of self.

👨‍👦 Father ♿ Disability 🧩 Complex relationship

Dr. Feldheim - Allan Corduner

A psychiatrist who uses hypnosis to help Nemo access his memories. Dr. Feldheim's sessions are instrumental in guiding interviews with Nemo and exploring the boundaries between therapy and storytelling. The interactions raise questions about who controls Nemo's memories and narrative.

🧠 Psychiatrist 🔍 Memory analyst 🧭 Ethical questions

Jean (age 9) - Anaïs Van Belle

The girl Nemo resolves to marry after a teenage romance with Elise's era. Jean appears as the first dance partner who later becomes his wife in another timeline, with their life including two sons and wealth, illustrating how one choice branches into different futures.

💑 Young love 🧭 Destiny 🧩 Family

Stefano - Ben Mansfield

Elise's partner in certain timelines; a competing romantic interest who influences the trajectory of Nemo and Elise's relationship. Stefano represents another path Nemo could have taken, highlighting how rivals shape emotional outcomes across timelines.

💔 Rival 🎭 Relationship dynamic 🧭 Alternate future

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:12

Major Themes – Mr. Nobody (2009)

Explore the central themes of Mr. Nobody (2009), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Memory

Memory drives the storytelling as Nemo's life is recalled through competing timelines. The Angels of Oblivion concept frames memory as something that can be erased before birth, yet Nemo claims to remember multiple futures. The film uses memory as both a tool and a trap, shaping identity across divergent lives.

🎲 Choice & Fate

Decisions appear to hinge on chance, with Nemo making life-altering choices by coin toss. The narrative presents bifurcations at key moments (family, love interests, and marriage) and asks whether free will can steer a single life when many futures exist. Fate feels malleable yet elusive, depending on which path Nemo traverses.

💀 Mortality & Immortality

In a world where death is conquerable, the film examines what gives life meaning beyond endless duration. Nemo's near-immortal context contrasts with intimate moments that define a person’s essence. The tension suggests that value lies in relationships and choices rather than the permanence of existence.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:12

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Mr. Nobody Summary

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Mr. Nobody Summary

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