Nobody Knows Film Difficulty Ranking: 3
Nobody Knows is one of the most moving and heart breaking films I’ve seen. You’ll meet some children treated as baggage (very literally in the opening scene) by their irresponsible mother. They’re left at home alone to fend for themselves for long periods forcing them to learn and do everything themselves. In this film, the adults are childish and the kids are forced to become adults to survive.
From: Japan, Asia
Watch: Trailer, JustWatch
Next: Shoplifters, Grave of the Fireflies, The Florida Project
The Breakdown
Nobody Knows starts with a boy and mother introducing themselves to their new neighbours. All the neighbours can say is that they’re relieved that she doesn’t have any young kids with her. Whilst the mother is introducing herself, a big eyed dog takes a moment to eye ball them suspiciously. Something is not quite right.
The mother and son start moving their luggage into the house. They start opening up the cases and suddenly, two more kids pop out of the previously zipped up luggage bags. She’s smuggled them into the apartment to avoid the nosy eyes of their new neighbours. The big eyed dog was right to eye them suspiciously. Something is up with this family. A few minutes later, a young girl who was previously traveling on a train arrives at the door – she’s the fourth child of the mother, and another that’s been smuggled in.
Initially the mum seems fun. She’s able to get her son and daughter to help her round the house and she manically entertains everyone. However, pretty quickly you’ll see that the initial fun mum act is just that: an act. The mum leaves soon after they move in and comes back late stinking of alcohol. She’s like a uncontrollable teenager whilst her son is the acting head of the household that stays up for her to make sure she gets home. Ultimately we find out that she’s just a helicopter mum that turns up when she wants to see them, and leaves them to fend for themselves when she doesn’t.
Grown Ups vs. Kids
Who are the grown ups and who are the kids in Nobody Knows? Initially, the mother presents herself as the role model who looks after the kids in their new home. But as she starts to disappear from the film, we realise that the boy runs the family. He’s not allowed to go to school, he has to do the grocery shop, feed his sisters and brother, and pay the bills. He is an adult but without the freedom of one. As a result, he doesn’t have a childhood. To try and salvage his situation, he tries to convince his mum to come back by writing her letters and calling her, but her lack of response is a sign that he has assumed the household. It’s as if they’re wild animals that have been left alone by their mum who has deemed them old enough to become adults.
Lost childhood symbolised in nail polish
There were a lot of powerful scenes in film, such as the baseball match that the boy is invited to join, the moment the kids are accused of shoplifting, and also when they finally break outside to play in the fresh air. However, the scene that struck me the most, was a scene in which 10 year old Kyoko, is caught putting on her mum’s red nail polish.
The red nail polish is firstly a symbol of adulthood – a sign that she’s losing her childhood and becoming an adult. However, it is also a symbol of her need of a mother. When she drops the bottle, the red nail polish forms a pool on the floor which looks like red blood – her first period. Her mum walks in, tells her off for using her stuff and walks out, leaving her standing there. Instead of helping her to clear up the mess and comfort her, being the mother she will need to know what’s happening to her body, she leaves her locked up in the house to figure out her changing body for herself. Kyoko will grow up and never realise what’s happening to her. She doesn’t have any other female role models – she can’t go to school, and she doesn’t have a mum. She’s lost.
What to Watch Next
Nobody Knows starts a bit like Ozu’s upbeat comedy, Good Morning, but becomes more melancholy as the film goes on like Kore-Eda’s Shoplifters and Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies. Two great films that swing from happiness to sadness.
If you’re looking for more films with mischievous kids, definitely check out The Florida Project or Ilo Ilo.
Otherwise, check out Golden Kingdom from Burma which features 4 young monks that, like the children in Nobody Knows, have to grow up quick to become adults.
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