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A woman sees a doctor. Zoe is in a promising (and steamy) new relationship with Wesley. But one morning, she feels some itching and discomfort in an intimate area and later, at the doctor's, she discovers it's a herpes outbreak. She's worried about breaking it to Wesley and possibly ending her romance, but her doctor advises her that he doesn't have to know. The problem is, Zoe can't get it out of her mind, along with the accompanying guilt, worry and anxiety. Ironically, that affects her peace of mind and the formerly blithe and carefree passion she has with her boyfriend. Confused by Zoe's mixed signals, Wesley presses her for an explanation, and Zoe must confront the choice between honesty and shame. Directed and written by Rachel Rosenstein, this smart, witty short comedy is a ribald yet empathetic exploration of embarrassment, human bodies and relationships, as told through the lens of a very common medical condition. According to the World Health Organization, about 64 percent of the world's adults under 50 are infected with HSV-1, while 13 percent have HSV-2. Despite its prevalence, Zoe's embarrassment and subsequent worry about hiding her condition make her feel alone and ashamed -- and ironically in danger of derailing a promising relationship. That tension between shame and intimacy is the crux of the film's arc, told with intelligent storytelling and nimble direction. We first meet Zoe on an ordinary morning as she gets ready in the bathroom and notices something awry with her nether parts. It's a funny and unabashedly frank opening scene that sets up the tone's modus operandi: it's not afraid to "go there" when it comes to the funny business of human bodies. The film's courage and bravery in its treatment of the theme is at odds with Zoe's initial feelings, and she's especially worried about how her new beau will take the news. Egged on by her doctor, she decides to try to hide her condition through silence and avoidance. We, of course, know this will not go well, though at first it seems to work. Zoe's increasingly elaborate machinations are situationally funny, but actor Rachel Rosenstein's performance remains emotionally grounded, and even through the humor, we're aware that the feints and subterfuge are affecting her sense of self. The storytelling is wise in noticing how hiding shame actually perpetuates more shame within -- and it also creates bewilderment with Wesley, who, being utterly besotted with his girlfriend, doesn't take any of Zoe's hints. Eventually, he forces the point, and Zoe must decide what kind of partner and human she wants to be. Spicy, nervy, funny and brave, NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW gets under the skin of how herpes can feel both incredibly heavy to those who have it, but how it's not such a big deal in how common it is. That dichotomy fuels the last zinger of the film, ending it on a laugh. But its lingering feeling is its resonance, touching on a core fear that many, including Zoe, feel: she worries about not being seen or loved for who she is, flaws and all. Those fears can get activated most intensely when it comes to our bodies and all that can go awry with them. But as Zoe discovers, openness, honesty and authenticity are the antidotes to the isolation of shame and the beginnings of genuine intimacy. NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW. Courtesy of Rachel Rosenstein at https://instagram.com/r_rosenstein.