Tell Me Who I am (2019) Movie Review

 

Tell Me Who I am | 2019 | 1h 26m
Genre: Crime Documentary/Documentary/Drama/Mystery | Country: UK
Director: Ed Perkins
Cast: Alex Lewis, Marcus Lewis
IMDB: 7.6
My Rate: 9/10

Alex loses his memory after an accident at the age of 18, and the only person he recognizes is his twin brother, Marcus. Alex trusts everything Marcus says about him until he realizes there are lies and big secrets that Marcus hides about their dark childhood.

Warning:

Contains scenes depicting sexual violence and heavy themes

 

Synopsis Tell Me Who I am (2019) :

Alex experiences a single motorbike accident that causes him to lose all his memory. This happens because the helmet he was wearing came off, causing his head to hit the road. The only person he recognizes is Marcus, his identical twin brother.

Alex relies on his memory of Marcus and trusts him completely. Marcus slowly reveals pieces of his memory. First, he introduces the house and its contents, including where they sleep. Then Marcus introduces their friends to Alex so that no one knows Alex has lost his memory.

As time passes, Alex begins to ask deeper questions, especially about his family. Marcus does not lie completely but also does not tell the truth. He hides some things that are part of a dark past for both of them, especially related to their mother.

Until their father and mother pass away. Alex finds a hidden secret in his mother’s room, and this makes him realize that Marcus is hiding something. Alex begins to question the truth of his memories. This also causes tension between them.

Will the hidden truth be able to repair their relationship?

 

Review Tell Me Who I am (2019)  :

Tell Me Who I am raises a very personal theme. Because the story involves shame, which is a true story from their lives. Their decision to reveal this to the public, both through a book they wrote themselves and through this documentary film, certainly was well considered. Considering this may bring both praise and negative criticism. Because it will not only affect them personally but also each of their families and extended families.

The story is presented systematically and is easy to understand. Dividing it into three parts, each focusing on a different POV, is a smart way to present it. Additionally, the presentation, editing, and use of symbols and illustrations make the story quite easy to visualize.

The foundation of the story is built very well. Although it does not explain who these two characters are to make it interesting or worthy of being made into a documentary film, the background of the story itself is explained very well. It shows the beginning of the incident where the accident caused the memory loss. The opening line at the beginning of the film also gives a strong impression for building that foundation.

The conflict arises gradually, with indications that Marcus is creating a past story that is not entirely true. Especially a few years later, Alex feels some oddness, particularly in Marcus’s interactions with their parents. The climax occurs when Alex discovers his mother’s secret.

The conflict diagram is presented very well and helps the audience understand the tension between them. The emotions of each character are very clear and conveyed well to the audience. This is enhanced by the symbolism of the atmosphere in their room, showing changes in the mood, such as when Alex sleeps alone, then sleeps together back-to-back, until neither is in the room.

The resolution is handled very well, with clarity between them and the secret beginning to be revealed. The character development of the protagonists is visible. Their connection also starts to improve.

The imagery is cinematic and uses appropriate illustrations. Although these illustrations only represent the actual situations, they feel like an important part of the story. The use of personal photos also strengthens the story and adds a sense of reality.

The close-up filming technique allows the audience to see the detailed facial expressions of each character. The use of contrasting black and white clothes and backgrounds provides a deeper atmosphere. Combined with the tasteful choice of music, it creates a harmonious whole.

Overall, this film is very interesting to watch and offers a different experience.

 

Memorable Scene:

Marcus says in his interview that the lies he told Alex were also his way of forgetting his dark past. So Alex can live peacefully because his memory was lost due to the accident. Marcus can also live better by voluntarily erasing those memories from his mind.

This scene explains the actions of most people who try to erase the painful dark past they have. They create an illusion of a story that eventually becomes believed as reality in their minds. In this way, they can survive by burying all their dark stories.

 

Memorable Dialogue:

"What is real and what isn't real?"

 

Ending:

Happy Ending

 

Recommendation:

Must Watch

 

(Aluna)