Seu Nome
Seu Nome - written by Angelo Gonzalez
(In Non-sequential order, scenes 1-70), using the David Lynch 70 card method.
Inspirations:
- 8 1/2
- Jim Jarmusch
- Past Lives
- Before Sunrise
- Before Sunset
Today/Bogota: 1-17
Memory: 18-24
Rio: 25-62
Closing: 63-70
Scene 1: Crossroads
Main character, Marco is standing at a crossroads waiting for the crosswalk light to change, as he is heading back to his office in an urban downtown setting. --> Time stops at the crosswalk (literally) but no one else notices and there is no one standing around waiting to cross...
Philosophical Context: Explains that the American Dream is dead or at least in a perpetual dream state.
Marco is then seen working late past midnight in the office, boredom sets in. Eyes jolting back and forth from webpage to webpage in an office alone, working.
Scene 2: In Office
In office, Marco starts describing the cam website addiction, trying to find a way out from feeling empty. From there, we see him staring out the public bus after work alone. Goes home alone, makes dinner, & interacts/feeds his cat... Goes to bed on his phone searching...
Scene 3: Nights
Nights bleeding into each other, walking and seeing what you want (walking through Malcolm X Park, Adams Morgan on 18th street, Mount Pleasant in the evening)... We see Marco walk into a local cafe (Marx's Cafe) in Mount Pleasant for jazz night.
Scene 4: Mamihlapinatapai
Feeling shy, Marco sits at the end of the bar, writing on flashcards some undescribed notes and looks up and notices a bartender, Damon. She is from Mexico, and he feels somehow like he would like to talk with her but does not know how, describes the word in 3rd person, "mamihlapinatapai" as the feeling he is feeling in that moment.
A lady friend comes by, makes introduction on behalf of Marco to the bartenders at Marx, asking for them to take care of Marco. Creating a domino effect of connection. Later, a patron sits next to Marco and they talk about L.A. culture, groups before the internet, and cultures in other cities in the U.S. = Miami, Oakland, NYC in early 90s).
You see at the end of this scene, the notecards that Marco came with, with the title "No Name" in the corner of the front notecard, as Marco walks out --> fades to walking home slightly inebriated with a slight smile having enjoyed the jazz played.
Scene 5: Phone Call
Marco has a call with Colombian friend, David --> Vignette to a few years back to Devoción (inspiration for coffee import business) --> back to present, Marco and David confirm flights later this month to Bogotá. Marco looks at spreadsheets and logistics and confirms trip with David will happen. They both agree to name the coffee company, "Periquito", with David explaining the reasoning that his grandma used to call a small afternoon coffee, "un periquito"...
Scene 6: Labor Taedium
Calls ends; immediately followed by quick sequence of morning list from phone read off by Marco to indicate the daily tasks that need to take precedent = in order to make order = stays on task, no longer bored, but intrigued and now in a creative spirit and out of the chaos of working from home and the reckless clothes and dishes still needed to get done (we hear "Morning of the Carnival" by Gerry Mulligan Sextet on vinyl being played as Marco puts on the record in the living room).
Slowly, Marco's senses dull and he gets into a lull of boredom --> curiosity into looking up the cam website again piques Marco's interest --> uses method to find someone obscure and different from other cam girls. –> he is looking for someone who appears like themselves and not trying to put on affection, someone who is restless perhaps like he is and fed up with the world just as much as he is, or just an artful soul, someone real.
He finally discovers a page where it is showing a room with art disparately on the wall, interesting music playing but no person in the room. He stays in the room listening to the music and working on his tasks. No one ever shows in the room. Fade scene.
Scene 7: Taedium Vitae, Pars Duo
Fades into intrigue only... then the next day occurs --> Marco wakes up and walks to park next door and walks in cool of the morning listening to music observing people. Feeling slightly more alive.
--> Followed by feding cat/routine prior to work --> same humdrum existence, but slight smiles at small occurrences. Starts to think about the cam room from the night before with the cool Brazilian music.
Scene 8: Conversation
Marco decides to go into the chat room with HG__ (or to be determined later...); has conversation about what he's looking for, likes the vibe that HG__ is creating ~ asks about her day... She says does it matter?
Metaphysical conversation ensues --> asks what life is like in Colombia... _> HG refuses playfully and goes into asking about Marco's life --> the question comes up from Marco asking HG, "what do you want in this life?" And before HG can answer, she thinks, smirks and half-smiles and looks at the camera and the show ends. End Scene.
Scene 9: Clocks
Late nights are seen from Marco's apartment (shows clock) --> Marco hovering over laptop in HG's chat room talking and typing --> masturbating in bathroom, while also in bed --> sharing laughs with HG and listening to music and drinking virtually --> both at ease with just talking --> exchanging numbers
Scene 10: The Exchange
After exchanging numbers; Marco receives risque photo & video at work in office... decides to go to the bathroom --> decides to pop the question --> "would it be crazy if we saw each other in Bogotá? --> you just see the kitten-like side smile from HG__ confirming yes.
Scene 11: Bogotá
Marco and David meet at the airport in Bogotá, ride to the airbnb and David explains the nature of the visit (to see his family in Bogotá, specifically his grandmother, as well as making business relations with coffee associations/farmers). Soon thereafter, Marco receives a text from HG ~ "are you here?" --> Marco replies, "yes". --> HG asks Marco to meet him at Bukowski Bar.
Scene 12: Spanglish
At Bukowski's, nervousness is felt on both ends; HG is wearh a bohemian dress with black boots and fun haircut --> ends up with lots of laughs and good conversation in Spanglish --> her friend shows up --> asks Marco if he wants to go to a party... Marcos smiles and says "porque no?" and goes along with the ride not knowing what to expect...
Scene 13: Peligrosa o no?!
Scene starts with passing cigarettes from front seat of the cab to the back, faces outside the cab windows feeling the air while the cab soars through the night on the Bogotá highway, while everyone sings karaoke in cab, laughing some more --> Marco gets a call from David and sounds worried, Marco assuages his fears and tells him he's fine and he'll see him in the morning --> cut to arriving at house party --> parties until wee hours of the night until the sun comes up --> first kiss between HG and Marco.
Scene 14: Sunrise
Scene starts with the warmth of the sunrise and one of the ladies at the house party making coffee. The same woman brings out fruta from the fridge, fruit that Marco has never encountered before – It appears to him as alien and strange, and yet this strange fruit strikes a chord and sends frissons all along his arms.
We see Marco smiling and everyone on the couch or on the floor smiling, and he looks at HG closely and pulls her in for a forehead kiss. --> Marco is now in a taxi (didi) riding back to his airbnb. --> We see daydreams of HG walking through la finca de cafe in the mountains of Colombia, but she's not really there. Then, Marco snaps back to reality and begins talking and asking questions to the owner of la finca about the coffee and how it is grown.
Scene 15: Hands
We see one last daydream of HG as Marco drinks his coffee with the prepared breakfast at la finca, with one hand on the porch tile that he sits upon. We see Marco talking to HG in this daydream, asking her to meet at his place back in Bogota, says it has a nice view of the city, and we see her smiling and nodding. Immediately, scene shifts to HG and Marco holding hands in the taxi on their way to the airbnb.
HG writes some original poetry in Marco's little red notebook while smoking a cigarette. Not much dialogue is exchanged, but we see both characters walk over to the new airbnb.
This leads to an impromptu photography session, moments of intimacy, and HG dancing around the room in lingerie.
Scene 16: Expectations
HG lays there still in bed, mute and sad. A similar expression is felt in Marco's body language. It is the opposite of expectations. The casual moments of intimacy leaves a space of emptiness, only to be lit up with another cigarette that HG asks for permission to light. She also asks for the remote and begins searching on youtube on the television...
She finally finds what she is looking for, "The Tobacco Shop" by Pessoa. They listen to the poem together in bed. We see a shot of the universe, of everything. The Amazon. The grandmother. The Tobacco shop owner. The writer. Each other's parents. The child reaching to the sky. The monkeys comforting each other. The river leading to the sea. The river leading to the sea.
Once the poem montage is over, HG is seen walking out of the airbnb to the playground to the swings. She swings for awhile with a more slight kitten smile, this time more pensive. Eventually, she rides off on her bike and doesn't look back to Marco. Marco sees her off and sighs, a sigh that wishes the intimacy never occurred. Knowing that there was something much more greater than intimacy was here.
Scene 17: Leaving Bogotá
Marco goes to the airport --> We see Marco looking out of the plane window where we also notice the rain on the window, the same rain that was pressing along the window of the airbnb the other day.
Marco speaks in a soliloquy about hasty decisions. About not understanding the other. Scene slowly fades to black.
Scene 18: Memoria
Four years later... Boredom starts to set in again for Marco while we see him sitting again working at a new office. He gets a call from his Colombian friend David, and expresses how he wishes things had been different in life. Opens up about HG, and how they didn't spontaneously meet in Bogotá but rather through a chat room online before coming to Colombia (years ago now).
Marco then checks to see if she's been online and it shows he hasn't been on in over a month, seeds disappointment and feelings of listless boredom and being lost again. Flashes back to driving across the night sky with HG and sharing fruit and smiling together at listening to the poem together in bed.
Scene 19: Try Again
Marco tries looking at HG's page again in the evening after work and sees her on. He smiles and decides to create another account, something similar in name but a different name. Marco goes unnoticed in the chatroom, but HG notices and asks if its him.
Immediately, Marco starts typing pouring out his overthinking mind, and HG accepts his apologies and HG and Marco appear to be "cool again". No hard feelings. Marco asks how is it that she is able to forgive so easily? And HG explains that life is short and we shouldn't be hung up about small trivial things.
Scene 20: Begin Again
A short scene of days and days of HG and Marco conversing about all sorts of topics, and then we see HG pause and then proceed to tell Marco that she is going to Brasil for a masters program. Marco is happy for HG for reaching out for her passions in life.
Scene 21: Apaixonado
We hear "Olha Eu Aqui Oh! Oh! Oh!..." by Evinha play while Marco is looking at flights to Sao Paulo at work, dancing in his private office, kitchen/living room, through the park on his walks. Marco starts going to Brasilian restaurants in his city and is listening to live bossa nova as well as vinyl record nights and enjoys and is falling in love with Brasilian music.
Scene 22: Flower Market Talks
We know on the side, Marco sells flowers at the farmers market, and brings up the question to all of his customers a survey, "if you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?" And then, a friend of the flower stand comes by and asks Marco the same question in retort.
The market friend then encourages Marco to go to Brasil, not to hesitate. Life is short. A blimp. A fog and flash. In a flash, we see Marco typing the words to HG and seeing if she wanted to come to Rio with him if he decided to come to Brasil.
She agrees, but notes on one condition, that nothing happens between them, because she has a boyfriend. Marco makes note of this and agrees.
Scene 23: Changes
Marco gets a call to change jobs (poached from a law firm recruiter)... From there we see him accept the offer and asks for three weeks to adjust before starting the new job.
So we see Marco then book a flight to Brasil and shares the news with HG about the new job, and opportunity to come to Brasil and has booked flights and a place to stay in Rio for a week, Marco ensures HG that he is perfectly okay with just being friends from here on out and respecting her space, initially jokes about sharing a bed but pulls back the joke and notes that she'll have her own room at the Rio homestay.
Scene 24: Revivência
Marco has flashbacks to Bogotá, Marco states in his second sililoquy on the airplane staring out as he is seen flying from his big city in the U.S. to Sao Paulo. In this sililoquy, Marco talks about wanting this trip to be different. He doesn't know how yet, but he doesn't want it to be surface level, but also has no expectations of the moment. We see him walking around Sao Paulo on this sililoquy journey.
Buying a guitar after a night of drinking caipirinhas outside at this corner bar where he could hear the most beautiful acoustic guitar being played with passion by the Brasilian guitarist for an audience of maybe five people.
We finally see Marco's head pressed up on the window of the airplane looking at Rio's landscape.
Scene 25: Cidade Maravilhosa
Marco walks around Rio at night near Lapa's arches, enjoys local music and drinks alone in an alley; walks along Urca's beautiful seaside street at night while motorcycles and lovers and family are all seen together in disparate harmony sitting or standing along the low stone wall. Marco is then seen playing the acoustic guitar he picked up in Sao Paulo alone in the living room of his Rio homestay... Fade out.
Scene 26: Reunião
Fade in... Marco is looking at people play sand volleyball at a nearby beach in Urca when he receives a text from HG that she is getting into Rio. Marco smiles and later on in the evening he notices that she texts him that her phone is about to die but that she is near and will be stopping near a corner convenience store. Time lapse at Praia da Urca until sunset begins to fall.
Scene 27: Abraçando
Marco walks nearby the store and is looking for her and eventually spots her picking up a can soda in the store from afar. He approaches her and when their eyes meet, Marco's shoulders lower in relaxation. They both smile and embrace and she begins chatting to him about her journey in Spanish, a little bit of portuguese so she can practice, and realizing Marco can't keep up, in slow english.
As they approach the homestay, Marco shows off the room, but then realizes their agreement to not sleep together in the same room.
Scene 28: a Doença
The next morning, a morning sickness comes over Marco. Marco is slightly upset at being sick because he can't go to the match later that evening because of his sickness. Unable to get out of bed, HG recommends going to the hospital. Marco is afraid because he has no health insurance that covers abroad, nor any travel insurance. HG takes Marco to the hospital despite Marco's intentions of staying in bed and fighting it alone.
Scene 29: Saúde e Cuidados
HG calms Marco down and his anxiety subsides as they wait briefly for the hospital to assess and receive Marco for a doctoral examination. There is clearly body sweats and aches all over Marco's body... The doctor examines him and notes that if it wasn't for Marco's friend being able to navigate Brazilian portuguese and the hospital system, it would have been slightly more difficult for Marco to receive proper care.
Soon thereafter, Marco asks what do I owe the hospital and HG tells him that he is receiving socialized medicine, and that it is absolutely free of any charges. Healthcare is seen as a right not a privilege. A reflection of dignity.
Scene 30: Uma Longa Caminhada
Amazed, Marco and HG begin their slow walk to look for the local pharmacy, with aches and pains and cold sweats still emanating from Marco's body left in torturous angst. We see from a distance HG translating again at the pharmacy and Marco takes the pills on the side of the street with a bottle of water.
HG is laughing at him and knows he'll be alright. The medicine is strong. HG recommends they take a taxi back and Marco take a nap before the futbol match later on in the evening. Marco still thinks there is no way he'll recover in time for tonight's match. HG tells Marco he'll be fine and when he wakes up, they can get açaí.
Scene 31: The Beautiful Game
Cuts to futbol match for a brief exchange of looks, cheers & smiles, both including walking and leaving the match and exiting through the night; walking along the pier & beach near Urca as people sit by the water.
Scene 32: Capitalismo en Leblon
Cuts to walking on the beach of Ipanema and Leblon. Laying on the beach, being offered iced tea, fruit, volleyballs, umbrella, and cheese sticks, and finally a massage offer by an African woman.
Scene 33: Arbritrage
After the massage – Clarisa & Marco have a chat about being taken "advantage" of from the masseuse. A dialogue about capitalism, global labor arbitrage and geographical arbitrage: where businesses and individuals exploit differences in labor costs, tax laws, or living expenses across different international jurisdictions. Marco proceeds to take photos of Clarisa and the magnificence of Leblon Beach in the background.
Scene 34: Da Casa da Tata
Marco has wandered and tried to find a place for a coffee and Clarisa has taken Marco to Da Casa da Tata, a studio-ghibli vibe with lots of greenery in and outside of the cafe and wooden furniture in a cozy nook feel to it.
Inside Marco and Clarisa immediately love the place and Marco recognizes who Tata (the owner is) and her husband. Marco looks at Tata and before knowing her, asks her if she is Tata, Tata replies, "how do you know me?" and they share a laugh together. They share two small coffees over a chocolate cake. The experience feels like something out of a Studio Ghibli film & Tata asks for us to leave a review, come back and that she loves us already.
Scene 35: Samba before Samba
Marco looks at Clarisa and asks her if she would like to go to Samba the next day (Monday), and Clarisa agrees to come. Cuts to scene walking through Pedro do Sal. The messy, noisy fun of Pedro do Sal. Squeezing by to find a good spot by the empty long square table.
Scene 36: Where You Need To Be
Marco & Clarisa patiently wait for the musicians to arrive. Clarisa lets Marco know that they shouldn't move their position, "sometimes you are where you need to be."
"Even when I don't want to be?" ... "Especially then."
Scene 37: Samba Samba
Musicians start to shuffle in with their cigars, cigarettes, casual nature, and the people surrounding the musicians by the table outside also seem nonplussed. They all look at each other, offer a gentle nod, put down their drinks and rip into the Samba.
Scene 38: Pedro do Sal
You see Marco & Clarisa grooving with the music, old heads singing the familiar tunes, and everyone is doing either dancing, talking along the hilly stone corridor, or drinking caipirinhas.
Scene 39: Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido
The band steps off and a DJ quickly takes over; playing "I'm Still In Love With You" by Sean Paul... and "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido" by Karol G. Marco and Clarisa dance intimately with each other ~ never kissing but locking eyes and closely connect their foreheads together. Eventually end of the song, we see both of them walking off smiling as they weave through the crowds and wait for an Uber to arrive to bring them to their room for a view.
Scene 40: A Boa Vista
Both arrive at the homestay; both agree to enjoy the jacuzzi together, still buzzing and talk about the Samba. Later we see Clarisa staring at the moon and the light its casting over Rio. Marco takes out his camera to snap photos of Clarisa overlooking the moon and the water and expansive view of Rio. Clarisa turns over to Marco and asks him if he would like to take a bath together; Marco agrees to the idea.
But asks Clarisa, "are you sure?" Clarisa says she is sure, but suggests they keep their swimwear on. They head to the bath, gently go inside and close the curtain surrounding the bath. Cut scene as we see candle lights flicker.