I Lost My Body 2019

A severed hand escapes from a refrigerator in a laboratory and embarks on an extraordinary journey across the suburbs of Paris, with the sole aim of reuniting with its body, Naoufel. His tale unfolds through poignant flashbacks that reveal a rich tapestry of his life.

As a young boy in Morocco, Naoufel dreams of becoming both a pianist and an astronaut, often capturing moments of his daily existence on a tape recorder. A tragic turn of events occurs during a car ride with his father, where his innocent distraction leads to a devastating crash that claims the lives of both his parents. This loss forces Naoufel to relocate to France, where he lives with his emotionally distant uncle Hichem Mesbah and his abrasive cousin.

Now navigating life as a pizza deliveryman, Naoufel is perpetually criticized by his boss for his tardiness. During one fateful delivery, he finds himself at the apartment of Gabrielle. Though they never actually meet, their connection is forged through the intercom as Naoufel’s curiosity blossoms into infatuation. Determined to win her over, he sets out to make a grand impression.

Determined to get closer to Gabrielle, Naoufel follows her to the library where she works and then trails her to a nearby neighborhood, where she is seen dropping off medicine to her uncle Gigi. Spotting a help-wanted sign in Gigi’s window, Naoufel swiftly seizes the opportunity to ingratiate himself with him, leveraging his status as an orphan to gain favor. Gigi begrudgingly agrees to take him on, and Naoufel leaves his uncle’s home to move into an attic apartment provided by him.

As he learns the trade, he gradually edges closer to Gabrielle without disclosing their previous encounter. One day, while sharing a conversation about the Arctic, Naoufel surprises her by crafting a wooden igloo on a nearby rooftop, showcasing his deep affection. Later, tensions unravel as he finds his cousin chatting with Gabrielle, who ends up getting invited to a party. That night, Naoufel takes Gabrielle onto the rooftops, discussing fate and the possibility of altering one’s destiny through unexpected actions. He reveals their earlier meeting, which infuriates Gabrielle, leading her to storm off, fearing he manipulated Gigi merely to pursue her.

Invested in his feelings, Naoufel attends the party alone, where he spirals into a drunken altercation. The morning after, he stumbles into work with a hangover and a black eye. During his shift, as he operates a bandsaw while distracted by a fly, a sudden mishap occurs, and he tragically severs his hand.

The severed hand eventually makes its way back to Naoufel, resting on his bed while he sleeps but unable to reattach itself; it ultimately hides under the bed. Crushed by despair, Naoufel turns once more to his tape recorder, which houses memories of his parents and the fatal accident. Despite Gigi’s efforts to reach out, Naoufel remains unresponsive, and Gabrielle finds his room deserted. In her search, she discovers a makeshift igloo crafted from sugar cubes in the cupboard and goes to explore the rooftop, uncovering Naoufel’s abandoned tape recorder. To her shock, she discovers a new recording that reveals Naoufel’s decision to leap off into the unknown after discussing such a daring act.

Transfixed by a moment of reflection, Naoufel lies on the crane he jumps to, smiling as he gazes out over the cityscape, while his severed hand quietly retreats into the snow, encapsulating the whimsy and tragedy of his journey.