Nobody
Nobody, played by Gary Farmer, is in "Dead Man" William Blake´s guide, travelling companion and partner in crime, also the first to name "recognize" a dead poet in him. He doesn´t save Blakes life, rather in contrary....
"He who talks loud, saying nothing", he sais is where his name has come from. The story of Nobody is presented to us by himself, and we really can´t be sure if any of it is true or not. It is his personal interpretation of his faith. But the fact is, he is travelling totally alone before he find Blake and tries to cut out the bullet from him. So it might be the other indians don´t want him in their company, like he sais. It might also be he has just grown apart from this world he´s re-entered, the world of his people and culture. He seems to be a bit crazy - but why do people think, that speaking to yourself is a sign of being crazy? Maybe Nobody is just discussing something important in his mind. What is his true story and background?
One thing that makes me restless about this character: does Nobody urge Blake to kill? Or is he just giving a warning, of what he knows will become of Blake - and how does he know? "Your gun will replace your tongue, and you will learn to speak through it. Your poetry will now be written in blood. " I dont think Nobody is either the messenger nor an accomplish. He is just keeping an eye on Blake .... and being honest to him.
The character of Nobody reminds me of many things. First of all, the great Greek god Hermes, whose one job was to be a guide for the spirits on their way to the kingdom of Hades.
He reminds me also of several fairytales, when a main character gets in trouble because of someone whose name is Myself or Me or also Nobody. "Who poked your eyes out?" -"Me!". There are some similar situations in Dead Man: "Who are you travelling with?" - "Nobody". "Nobody will observe." The game with words......."Who did you play in the movie, Gary?" - "Nobody!"
Nobody may also remind you of all the millions of refugees, immigrants, fortune-seekers, gold-diggers, that are not clearly a part of any society, their identity has got lost during the migration and several generations of hopeful newcomers. They belong nowhere, and both their previous homeland and the new one don´t quite accept them. It is not just the faith of immigrants in USA, but in several other places in the world, where war, internal conficts, social insecurity, fading cultural traditions and globalization have left many people mentally homeless ..... millions of Nobodys.
Yet, Nobody does, after all, have a place to go to, a culture to belong, and he takes Blake there too. in that Indian village Nobody has some respect and influence. Not too much. But enough to get Blake ready for his (final?) journey, and have it his own way... he stays behind while Balke drifts away in the boat.... what will Nobody do next? Does he have another Dead Man that he must fetch?
Gary Farmer is bringing this role to us somehow very gently, softly, seeminly not acting at all. He also has this very reassuring, and therefore a bit confusing impression on his face, that doesn´t match at all the rough environment he is in and the sometimes bitterly straightforward words he speaks. He looks like a big, soft teddy bear in an indian outfit...and yet, you´ll remember Nobody as Nobody, not as babyfaced Gary Farmer in a silly indian costume.
And you ´ll recognize him too, when he appears on screen in another one of Jim Jarmuch´s movies.... thats another story.
© Redfox, Tallinn 2006
Summary