Red Wood Pigeon: Was Michele Always Amnesiac?

Okay, so I've probably seen 'Red Wood Pigeon' like, a dozen times now? And each time, something new pops. This time, I couldn't shake the feeling that Michele's amnesia isn't as sudden as the movie presents it. Like, what if he was always a bit...out of it? Hear me out: Think about the opening scenes. He's an MP, sure, but he's kind of detached, right? He barely seems to engage with the other politicians, and his campaign speeches are all rote memorization. What if the car crash just exacerbated an existing condition? It would explain why nobody really notices his memory loss. They just think he's being his usual, slightly vacant self. Plus, the way he latches onto the water polo game feels almost desperate, like he's grasping for ANYTHING to anchor him to reality. It's not just about remembering his past with Sophie, but finding a way to be present, period. And Sophie! I think she's the key. Maybe she did notice the change, but she downplayed it because she was terrified of losing him completely? Or maybe she was so used to him being 'unavailable' emotionally that she just assumed it was more of the same. I mean, the dialogue between them is purposely vague – a lot of implied stuff, not much direct confrontation. The scene where he vaguely remembers her is my favorite, you can see she's holding back tears. Anyway, just a thought! Maybe I'm reading too much into it (I do tend to do that), but I'd love to hear what you guys think. Is Michele's amnesia a sudden shock, or a slow burn that finally ignites after the crash? Am I totally off-base here? Let me know!