Nobody Has to Know

We rely on our memories to tell us who we are. But what if those memories disappear? That's what Phil (Bouli Lanners), a Walloon man on a remote Scottish island, struggles with. After a brain haemorrhage, he wakes up with amnesia. Millie (Michelle Fairley), the daughter of Phil's boss, takes care of him. She helps him get used to his own life again, tells him where he comes from, what he likes and dislikes—and that they had a secret affair. It is a delicate situation, but gradually they surrender to each other. After all, old love doesn't rust. But was it really old love? ‘Nobody Has to Know’ is the English-language debut of director Bouli Lanners (‘Les géants’, ‘Eldorado’), who plays the lead alongside ‘Game of Thrones’ actress Michelle Fairley.

‘”Nobody Has to Know” goes beyond [its] melodramatic roots to explore a more measured, complex story of how to escape the straitjacket of a settled past to create a future based on a more honest understanding… [The plot] retains its hold and credibility thanks to the sincerity of the filmmakers and the conviction of the performances; the fact that both central characters are in their fifties lends an extra poignancy to the story.’—Allan Hunter, Screen