Nobody's Watching

By: obilivion

Until 2/3 of this movie, Nico who came to New York in search of an American dream as an actor from South America is depicted as being
able to live well as a lullaby or part-time job even after being interviewed.
Even though the story progressed, there was no excitement, so I got bored and quit watching.
Later, I took a fresh look and looked again.
Then, the story suddenly develops from around 2/3, without any notice.
I don't know if this technique is good, but I couldn't concentrate on this work after all.
The movie must attract those who see it early.

By: Amos Lassen

"Nobody's Watching" ("NADIE NOS MIRA")

Anonymity and Freedom, Pain and Loneliness

Amos Lassen

Nico (Guillermo Pfening) is a young Argentine actor in his mid-30s who is fighting against odds to find fame. His life and the film are about the struggle of self-imposed exile; how the pleasures of anonymity and freedom contrast with the pain of loneliness and loss that shapes immigrant experience. NICO, mid 30's, is a young Argentine actor fighting to build a career in the US, without assistance, or connections and he is always near heart-breaking failure, but often blinded by the hope of immediate success. He left a promising acting career in Argentina after a tumultuous fight and break-up with his mentor/producer and comes to New York, believing that his talent will help him find success "on his own" and prove his self-worth. However, that's not what he finds. He sees that he is too blond to play Latino but his accent to strong to play anything else. He realizes that he is stuck between identities: that of the successful South American actor, and temporary immigrant needing to work odd jobs and take under-the-table employment as he searches for the ever-elusive role part that will provide an adjustment of status.

In Argentina people saw him as famous and so nice that people used to take selfies with him right on the street. But now he is in the United States with an uncertain future, working as a nanny, stealing goods from stores, and keeps lying to his friends about non-stop offers he receives from well-known producers. In reality there was nothing happening.

We learn that Nico is not only running away from Argentina, but rather from a complicated relationship with Martin and from his own inability to find a balance between him and his marriage. Nico seems to be in love with Martin, but he is also in love with acting. Yet, despite having a likable look for the camera, the actor from Argentina is not so in demand in New York.

The story moves very quickly. We see him as a very anticipated viewer who went to watch a movie expecting it to be great but in the end got really disappointed. It is always interesting to know what actors do or not do while nobody is watching them but after seeing Nico's situation, we may not want to know this ever again. What Nico does everyday is awaken to say good morning to dreams he has not yet accomplished. He bids farewell to fame and faces the uncertainty of life that not many can deal with. We learn that Nico's character from a telenovela was put in coma in order allow the actor to embark himself on a journey towards his dreams but in reality, Nico was in coma as well until he arrives in New York. But by the time he wakes up, he will have to see the world the way it is and whether or not he does so you will learn only by seeing the film.

It is disheartening to fall from having been a much-loved actor in Argentina to being someone that no one notices in New York. With each role Nico takes on, he puts on a new persona in order to fit in. He performs the ideal bartender, the up-and-coming actor, the friend, and the father figure. But when old friends from Buenos Aires come to visit, he needs to juggle the image of his old life with the reality of the struggling actor in New York City.

Julia Solomonoff has given us a portrait of immigrant solitude. Nico faces the difficulty of finding not only a home, but himself as the film looks at how we adjust when we lose our audience. Guillermo Pfening won the Best Actor Award at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival for his role in this film.