Spoiler Alert :- If you have not seen the movie yet and plan on watching it ,this post contains some plot revelations.
In fact , do watch the movie and then read the blog , it will make much more sense.The movie is quirky, confusing and sometimes overdone , but still a deeply moving work of art.
Disclaimer ! I doubt that many will cherish it.
Disclaimer ! I doubt that many will cherish it.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind ! I really don’t know why but this line from Alexander Pope’s poem ‘Eloise to Aberald’ stirs something within me. The line is uttered by Eloise when she painfully reminisces her passionate affair with Aberald while she is separated from him and has been forced to take refuge in the Church.She wistfully looks at the vestal virgins who have never experienced the joy of being in romantic love and thus are acquitted from the sorrows of heart break. She envies them because unlike them , she has powerful feelings for the man she loves and has secretly married. The word ‘vestal’ means chaste. The vestal virgins have given up all desires and the purity of their mind and soul (spotless mind) gives them the happiness and tranquility (eternal sunshine) which Eloise so desperately seeks by
asking for forgetfulness rather than forgiveness .
asking for forgetfulness rather than forgiveness .
The line was also used as the title for the 2004 American Romantic comedy film – Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind , in which also , forgetfulness becomes the heroine’s only refuge. The film has a cult following because of its brilliant subject matter and excellent performances by Kate Winslet ( as the free spirited Clementine Kruczynski ) and Jim Carrey ( as the emotionally withdrawn Joel Barish) who meet by chance and fall in love in spite of their polar opposite personalities.
As their relationship progresses, it worsens , as their character flaws result in constant clashes. Clementine being the impulsive one , gives up on the relationship first and decides to erase any memory of their relationship from her mind. She approaches Lacuna Inc. ( a fictional firm that performs the procedure of erasing certain memories from the brain). After the procedure , she fails to recognize Joel and leaves him perplexed . Joel comes to know about the aforementioned firm and the services they provide and in a state of fury decides upon undergoing the procedure himself.
Joel finds out that Clementine erased him from her memory
Joel decides to erase her memories
The memories in his brain start to get erased in reverse order , the most recent memories of his are of their constant bickering and frustration. As the procedure continues and Joel regresses towards erasing the happier times in their relationship , he realizes that he truly loves Clementine and wants to keep some memory of her .
Joel and Clementine(of Joel's memories) discuss inside Joel's brain how to save the memories
Notice that this Clementine is a reflection of his own subconscious
Most of the plot takes place inside Joel's mind where he attempts to save some memory of Clementine while he is undergoing the procedure and is in an unconscious state. He is not able to save any but only the last thing that Clementine whispers to him ,” Meet me in Montauk.” After he regains consciousness ,he goes to Montauk not knowing why he is going there(Joel's first dialogue in the movie,"Ditched work today.Took a train out to Montauk. I don't know why. I'm not an impulsive person. I guess I just woke up in a funk this morning. ")He meets Clementine there (this means that Clementine of Joel's memories is very similar to the real Clementine and Joel knew exactly what she would do) and they fall in love once again ( bear in mind they are strangers at this point of time as both of them don’t have any memory of knowing each other ever). Later both of them receive a letter from Lacuna Inc. (leaked by Mary Svevo who once worked for the firm) about the procedure which had been performed on them.With this knew found knowledge , both of them are hesitant to take a step towards their relationship , but agree anyway. The movie ends at that.
letter leaked by Mary Svevo from lacuna Inc
Clementine's hair define the time period in their relationship because of the non linear narrative of the movie
Green signifies the beginning of the relationship
Red signifies the happy and passionate phase
Tangerine is when the problems start to surface
Blue is the first colour we see because the movie is in reverse,this is when they meet again after the procedure and fall in love for a second time
There are a lot of things to be learned from this cinematic masterpiece. First of all , the memory of any event in our life, good or bad has somehow contributed in making us what we are. That is why , when we lose a memory ,we lose a part of who we are. When Joel gets rid of Clementine’s memories , he also forgets some of the memories from his childhood.Moreover, when the two of them meet after the procedure , they get instantly attracted to each other and fall in love all over again , which means , the mind can be controlled but the heart wants what it wants.
Secondly, if we lose the memory of our past mistakes and their dire consequences , we are bound to commit them over and over. As is the case with Joel and Clementine , though they don’t work as a couple , they agree to give their relationship a second shot , not remembering any of their previous relationship issues.(I have to confess one thing that being a hopeless romantic , I would have taken the same step as Joel and Clementine and would have given the relationship a second chance , because in the end the journey with your loved one is worth taking in spite of all the pitfalls , isn't it what's life is all about - second chances?)
Thirdly , if we don’t remember what we have already gone through in life , we won’t be able to have the experience of getting over it and moving on. My favorite scene in the movie is when Joel and Clementine are sitting near the ocean , fully aware that they won't be able to save the memory of their love and Clementine leans and says , " Joel , all of this would be gone soon." Joel asks ," So, what do we do ?" and she replies ,"Enjoy." This scene is a work of sheer brilliance. It subtely hints that just because something is going to be gone soon , one should not just sit back and mourn, but fully enjoy it while it is still there.
Fourthly, when a relationship ends , all we are left with is the pain of the breakup, we purposely block the memories of the happier times , only because it makes moving on easier. As Joel realises midway through his procedure , that their tumultous relationship wasn't all bad. They had their fair share of good times and that is what is worth preserving.To fall in love is a matter of fate, but to continue to be in love needs acceptance of each other's faults and a strong will to be with each other in spite of them.
Lastly , all the events that transpire in our life are a learning experience , merely erasing them from the memory moots their purpose , which is to help us learn and grow ,because at the end –
Everybody’s got to learn sometime.
Do visit this link :-
Just finished reading this clearly written and thought provoking article. Needed this one. :)
ReplyDeleteDidn't know about the hair at all. Good one.