This Is What It’s Like to Live in a World Without Smell | Short Film Showcase

I wish I had more of these dreams I had

I wish I had more of these dreams I had one dream I woke up so happy it was so

one dream I woke up so happy it was so

one dream I woke up so happy it was so real I remember being in the kitchen and

real I remember being in the kitchen and

real I remember being in the kitchen and all of a sudden I smelled broccoli I

all of a sudden I smelled broccoli I

all of a sudden I smelled broccoli I took out of the fridge it was just so

took out of the fridge it was just so

took out of the fridge it was just so real and when I woke up I was happy my

real and when I woke up I was happy my

real and when I woke up I was happy my friends would say things like we’d be

friends would say things like we’d be

friends would say things like we’d be near movie theater and they’d say I

near movie theater and they’d say I

near movie theater and they’d say I smell popcorn and I actually had no idea

smell popcorn and I actually had no idea

smell popcorn and I actually had no idea that what they were saying related to

that what they were saying related to

that what they were saying related to something they were taking in through

something they were taking in through

something they were taking in through their senses from the environment Bryan

their senses from the environment Bryan

their senses from the environment Bryan the train to work in the morning the

the train to work in the morning the

the train to work in the morning the train’s pretty crowded so you’re really

train’s pretty crowded so you’re really

train’s pretty crowded so you’re really close to the person next to you see some

close to the person next to you see some

close to the person next to you see some older woman

older woman

older woman her hair was inches from my face it was

her hair was inches from my face it was

her hair was inches from my face it was touching my face and I was just grateful

touching my face and I was just grateful

touching my face and I was just grateful that I couldn’t smell I went on

that I couldn’t smell I went on

that I couldn’t smell I went on believing for so many years that I had a

believing for so many years that I had a

believing for so many years that I had a sense of smell that had to learn how to

sense of smell that had to learn how to

sense of smell that had to learn how to use it it wasn’t till at least midway

use it it wasn’t till at least midway

use it it wasn’t till at least midway through elementary school that I said

through elementary school that I said

through elementary school that I said okay this is the real thing that I can’t

okay this is the real thing that I can’t

okay this is the real thing that I can’t do my father can’t smell smell smell

do my father can’t smell smell smell

do my father can’t smell smell smell assumed that I would not have a sense of

assumed that I would not have a sense of

assumed that I would not have a sense of smell my earliest memories are my mother

smell my earliest memories are my mother

smell my earliest memories are my mother sitting down with me was scratching

sitting down with me was scratching

sitting down with me was scratching sniffs and I always just remember

sniffs and I always just remember

sniffs and I always just remember thinking okay everything just smells the

thinking okay everything just smells the

thinking okay everything just smells the same as I was working in the kitchen

same as I was working in the kitchen

same as I was working in the kitchen everything was about to smell it was the

everything was about to smell it was the

everything was about to smell it was the smell of veal stock bubbling on the

smell of veal stock bubbling on the

smell of veal stock bubbling on the stove it was the smell of butter melting

stove it was the smell of butter melting

stove it was the smell of butter melting in the pan smell gave flavor to all of

in the pan smell gave flavor to all of

in the pan smell gave flavor to all of the different ingredients I was working

the different ingredients I was working

the different ingredients I was working with without a sense of smell eating for

with without a sense of smell eating for

with without a sense of smell eating for me became like my world had faded from

me became like my world had faded from

me became like my world had faded from color to black and white I understand

color to black and white I understand

color to black and white I understand it’s very common for people with out a

it’s very common for people with out a

it’s very common for people with out a sense of smell to not be able to taste

sense of smell to not be able to taste

sense of smell to not be able to taste but that’s not the case with me I have a

but that’s not the case with me I have a

but that’s not the case with me I have a very vivid sensitive list

very vivid sensitive list

very vivid sensitive list I can taste I have a true case which is

I can taste I have a true case which is

I can taste I have a true case which is bitter sweet salty sour but I don’t

bitter sweet salty sour but I don’t

bitter sweet salty sour but I don’t taste flavors so

taste flavors so

taste flavors so you know between two bowls of ice cream

you know between two bowls of ice cream

you know between two bowls of ice cream I’m not gonna be able to tell which is

I’m not gonna be able to tell which is

I’m not gonna be able to tell which is vanilla which is chocolate if it’s a

vanilla which is chocolate if it’s a

vanilla which is chocolate if it’s a really intense thing right in my nose

really intense thing right in my nose

really intense thing right in my nose like for example going to the dentist

like for example going to the dentist

like for example going to the dentist and having nitrous oxide I feel like I

and having nitrous oxide I feel like I

and having nitrous oxide I feel like I smell that it’s like a really yummy

smell that it’s like a really yummy

smell that it’s like a really yummy thing to eat like yummy chocolate ice

thing to eat like yummy chocolate ice

thing to eat like yummy chocolate ice cream but it sort of fills up the whole

cream but it sort of fills up the whole

cream but it sort of fills up the whole head so there was one time in Seattle

head so there was one time in Seattle

head so there was one time in Seattle there was a rose and I concentrated very

there was a rose and I concentrated very

there was a rose and I concentrated very very very hard and I got a faint whiff

very very hard and I got a faint whiff

very very hard and I got a faint whiff of it and that was probably the only

of it and that was probably the only

of it and that was probably the only time in my life that I’ve ever smelled

time in my life that I’ve ever smelled

time in my life that I’ve ever smelled anything I went for a jog one morning in

anything I went for a jog one morning in

anything I went for a jog one morning in August it was early in the morning it

August it was early in the morning it

August it was early in the morning it was raining they were playing movies in

was raining they were playing movies in

was raining they were playing movies in the park it was the summer time they

the park it was the summer time they

the park it was the summer time they were supposed to play Wayne’s World that

were supposed to play Wayne’s World that

were supposed to play Wayne’s World that night got rained out I was on my way

night got rained out I was on my way

night got rained out I was on my way home a few blocks from home and I was

home a few blocks from home and I was

home a few blocks from home and I was hit by a car she was nighttime I had had

hit by a car she was nighttime I had had

hit by a car she was nighttime I had had my lights everything on my bike guy

my lights everything on my bike guy

my lights everything on my bike guy opened his car door without looking I

opened his car door without looking I

opened his car door without looking I went flying I don’t remember when I was

went flying I don’t remember when I was

went flying I don’t remember when I was flipped up onto the windshield and

flipped up onto the windshield and

flipped up onto the windshield and fractured the back of my skull or when I

fractured the back of my skull or when I

fractured the back of my skull or when I was flipped out on to

was flipped out on to

was flipped out on to remember waking up in the hospital with

remember waking up in the hospital with

remember waking up in the hospital with needles in my arm so what’s going on and

needles in my arm so what’s going on and

needles in my arm so what’s going on and they told me he got hit by a car and

they told me he got hit by a car and

they told me he got hit by a car and went online started searching you know

went online started searching you know

went online started searching you know lost his smell head injury this is such

lost his smell head injury this is such

lost his smell head injury this is such a thing I didn’t even know it existed my

a thing I didn’t even know it existed my

a thing I didn’t even know it existed my life is totally different now there was

life is totally different now there was

life is totally different now there was a smell always constantly around me it

a smell always constantly around me it

a smell always constantly around me it smelled a little bit like a garden

smelled a little bit like a garden

smelled a little bit like a garden without the flowers I just figured you

without the flowers I just figured you

without the flowers I just figured you know based on the shape of my nose and

know based on the shape of my nose and

know based on the shape of my nose and the direction of smell that it was

the direction of smell that it was

the direction of smell that it was probably smelling my brain and and I

probably smelling my brain and and I

probably smelling my brain and and I liked it because it was a smell I would

liked it because it was a smell I would

liked it because it was a smell I would later learn that this was something

later learn that this was something

later learn that this was something called a phantom smell and they’re

called a phantom smell and they’re

called a phantom smell and they’re incredibly common with people who lose

incredibly common with people who lose

incredibly common with people who lose their sense of smell

their sense of smell

their sense of smell you can tell each season with the smell

you can tell each season with the smell

you can tell each season with the smell on the air and everything and I don’t

on the air and everything and I don’t

on the air and everything and I don’t get that anymore so I lost my sense of

get that anymore so I lost my sense of

get that anymore so I lost my sense of smell and because of that I am very

smell and because of that I am very

smell and because of that I am very thankful that I was able to find that I

thankful that I was able to find that I

thankful that I was able to find that I had a olfactory Grove meningioma which

had a olfactory Grove meningioma which

had a olfactory Grove meningioma which is a brain tumor around the olfactory

is a brain tumor around the olfactory

is a brain tumor around the olfactory bulb and was able to get it removed and

bulb and was able to get it removed and

bulb and was able to get it removed and taken care of

taken care of

taken care of the scent of my leg of my children you

the scent of my leg of my children you

the scent of my leg of my children you can tell apart from any any other kid

can tell apart from any any other kid

can tell apart from any any other kid and it’s really a bonding thing and it’s

and it’s really a bonding thing and it’s

and it’s really a bonding thing and it’s like I’ve had to like going touch her

like I’ve had to like going touch her

like I’ve had to like going touch her mooring hugger more

mooring hugger more

mooring hugger more [Music]

there are things that people just can’t

there are things that people just can’t describe to you I’d really love to know

describe to you I’d really love to know

describe to you I’d really love to know my wife smells like when my son smells

my wife smells like when my son smells

my wife smells like when my son smells like I think he smells sweet and you

like I think he smells sweet and you

like I think he smells sweet and you know like a kid I just I wish I knew I

know like a kid I just I wish I knew I

know like a kid I just I wish I knew I wish I could smell when kids pass gas

wish I could smell when kids pass gas

wish I could smell when kids pass gas that I know what other people are making

that I know what other people are making

that I know what other people are making such a fuss about think it like sort of

such a fuss about think it like sort of

such a fuss about think it like sort of things the inside of your nose

things the inside of your nose

things the inside of your nose there’s this new car smell that everyone

there’s this new car smell that everyone

there’s this new car smell that everyone talks about and they can’t describe it

talks about and they can’t describe it

talks about and they can’t describe it my baby and I smell my baby their new

my baby and I smell my baby their new

my baby and I smell my baby their new babies smell really nice barbecue did

babies smell really nice barbecue did

babies smell really nice barbecue did her ass people come into my room and

her ass people come into my room and

her ass people come into my room and they’ll say how that smells just like

they’ll say how that smells just like

they’ll say how that smells just like you in it I don’t really get that I’ve

you in it I don’t really get that I’ve

you in it I don’t really get that I’ve heard you’d say he smells like it’s

heard you’d say he smells like it’s

heard you’d say he smells like it’s gonna rain I just don’t I can’t

gonna rain I just don’t I can’t

gonna rain I just don’t I can’t understand how it can smell like the

understand how it can smell like the

understand how it can smell like the weather wintertime which was always a

weather wintertime which was always a

weather wintertime which was always a the fireplaces on my block back home was

the fireplaces on my block back home was

the fireplaces on my block back home was always a good smell growing up as a kid

always a good smell growing up as a kid

always a good smell growing up as a kid I know the summers gonna come up and

I know the summers gonna come up and

I know the summers gonna come up and there’s gonna be barbecues that’s

there’s gonna be barbecues that’s

there’s gonna be barbecues that’s something I’m gonna miss to just good

something I’m gonna miss to just good

something I’m gonna miss to just good times I linked it with certain smells I

times I linked it with certain smells I

times I linked it with certain smells I realized that I was picking up a smell

realized that I was picking up a smell

realized that I was picking up a smell then it clicked and I’m like oh my gosh

then it clicked and I’m like oh my gosh

then it clicked and I’m like oh my gosh it’s the exhaust and gas fumes from the

it’s the exhaust and gas fumes from the

it’s the exhaust and gas fumes from the bus it was like someone you know cracked

bus it was like someone you know cracked

bus it was like someone you know cracked open the window and you know I had that

open the window and you know I had that

open the window and you know I had that little bit of hope that I was helping my

little bit of hope that I was helping my

little bit of hope that I was helping my mother to cook dinner because I couldn’t

mother to cook dinner because I couldn’t

mother to cook dinner because I couldn’t stay away from the kitchen and I had a

stay away from the kitchen and I had a

stay away from the kitchen and I had a sprig of fresh rosemary the herb and all

sprig of fresh rosemary the herb and all

sprig of fresh rosemary the herb and all of a sudden distance

of a sudden distance

of a sudden distance hit me out of the blue this one singular

hit me out of the blue this one singular

hit me out of the blue this one singular smell and at first I don’t know what it

smell and at first I don’t know what it

smell and at first I don’t know what it was because it was so strong and so

was because it was so strong and so

was because it was so strong and so potent and felt like it completely took

potent and felt like it completely took

potent and felt like it completely took over my brain

over my brain

over my brain I forgot that smell be that strong even

I forgot that smell be that strong even

I forgot that smell be that strong even if I take a shower and I put cream on

if I take a shower and I put cream on

if I take a shower and I put cream on perfume and I want to smell like a woman

perfume and I want to smell like a woman

perfume and I want to smell like a woman it it’s just missing and I do isolate a

it it’s just missing and I do isolate a

it it’s just missing and I do isolate a lot more now because I feel safer just

lot more now because I feel safer just

lot more now because I feel safer just being with myself people get angry you

being with myself people get angry you

being with myself people get angry you should be really upset that you can’t

should be really upset that you can’t

should be really upset that you can’t smell you should work on this and

smell you should work on this and

smell you should work on this and rehabilitate it but for me it’s a

rehabilitate it but for me it’s a

rehabilitate it but for me it’s a non-issue it’s something that I’ve been

non-issue it’s something that I’ve been

non-issue it’s something that I’ve been curious about I know he’s kind of wonder

curious about I know he’s kind of wonder

curious about I know he’s kind of wonder just because it is attached to memories

just because it is attached to memories

just because it is attached to memories so much that I’m wondering what I’m

so much that I’m wondering what I’m

so much that I’m wondering what I’m missing out on it’s like let’s say on

missing out on it’s like let’s say on

missing out on it’s like let’s say on the bus something smells bad cuz some

the bus something smells bad cuz some

the bus something smells bad cuz some kid had something bad at lunch and

kid had something bad at lunch and

kid had something bad at lunch and everybody’s like gagging and I’m just

everybody’s like gagging and I’m just

everybody’s like gagging and I’m just sitting back and so it makes me feel

sitting back and so it makes me feel

sitting back and so it makes me feel kind of special it’s been a research

kind of special it’s been a research

kind of special it’s been a research done 10,000 flavors that I will never

done 10,000 flavors that I will never

done 10,000 flavors that I will never know and that’s you know 10,000

know and that’s you know 10,000

know and that’s you know 10,000 conversations I’ll never have there’s

conversations I’ll never have there’s

conversations I’ll never have there’s this old guy at work and he was a close

this old guy at work and he was a close

this old guy at work and he was a close talker and I thought who’s try to avoid

talker and I thought who’s try to avoid

talker and I thought who’s try to avoid him whenever I could he’s the nice guy

him whenever I could he’s the nice guy

him whenever I could he’s the nice guy you know his breath

you know his breath

you know his breath now it doesn’t doesn’t bother anyone

now it doesn’t doesn’t bother anyone

now it doesn’t doesn’t bother anyone we’re cool

we’re cool

we’re cool smell is linked to some of the most

smell is linked to some of the most

smell is linked to some of the most important parts of our lives it’s linked

important parts of our lives it’s linked

important parts of our lives it’s linked to our memories is linked to our child

to our memories is linked to our child

to our memories is linked to our child it’s linked to our past it says a lot

it’s linked to our past it says a lot

it’s linked to our past it says a lot about what we eat

about what we eat

about what we eat how we choose to eat where we like to go

how we choose to eat where we like to go

how we choose to eat where we like to go what we like to put on our skin it

what we like to put on our skin it

what we like to put on our skin it brings us closer to people

brings us closer to people

brings us closer to people makes us recognize the people that we

makes us recognize the people that we

makes us recognize the people that we love it’s complicated and it’s not

love it’s complicated and it’s not

love it’s complicated and it’s not completely understood by the scientific

completely understood by the scientific

completely understood by the scientific community but we do know that it begins

community but we do know that it begins

community but we do know that it begins with a molecule and there are many

with a molecule and there are many

with a molecule and there are many different stops and signals along the

different stops and signals along the

different stops and signals along the way

way

way [Music]