Film diaries

“I had you pegged didn’t I?”

“You had the whole human race pegged.”

A memory box that holds all my moments with you, filled to the brim. Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless mind was released 22 years ago. Directed by Michel Gondry, here we have a cinematic, romantic, enthralling, and unique perspective into a special couple. Charlie Kaufman, screenplay writer, was able to bring to life an immersive experience into a dream world.

JOEL: “It’s goddamn freezing on this beach. Montauk in February. Brilliant, Joel. Pages ripped out. Don’t remember doing that. It appears this is my first entry in two years. Sand is overrated. It’s just tiny little rocks. If only I could meet someone new. I guess my chances of that happening are somewhat diminished, since I’m incapable of making eye contact with a woman I don’t know. Maybe I should get back together with Naomi. She was nice. Nice is good. She loved me. … Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?”

Valentines Day in Montauk and the snow is sticking to the sand. Joel Barish, played by Jim Carrey, carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. The sadness above him, almost like a dark shadow that he keeps trying to outrun. Clementine Kruczynski, played by Kate Winslet, is bright, vivacious and daring. Gondry and Kaufman wanted the duality between their characters because it showed that opposites attract. They were each given different instructions: Joel was to take himself very seriously while Clementine was to treat this like a romantic, drama comedy. In this way, she offered her hand to lead him out of a dark room.

I felt myself emotionally tied to places where they had been, wanting to be there too. As it is Valentines Day and the weather in New York is still very cold — Montauk was an odd decision to begin with.

The film begins and ends in a familiar way, a circular momentum that leaves you stunned. Gondry was able to illuminate the power of perception in one particular childhood memory. It is good to remember what film sets did to show camera angle illusions, without the use of CGI.

The way that Joel and Clementine meet seems so fluid and natural, like magnets. The moments feel short sometimes but there is a strange quality to the mundaneness of the world. It is in these moments that we trap ourselves in our minds.

I loved watching Clementine because she seemed free, whimsical, full of life. She knew what she wanted and she wasn’t quiet about it. She’s one of those girls that talks a lot and you want to hear everything she says until you don’t. I think that’s what happens sometimes. Kaufman gives us just enough of Clementine to want to hear her side of the story, too.

All relationships evolve in various ways— new habits discovered, things may be shared or not shared, quiet moments don’t feel like they used to. The mundane creeps up and suddenly you’re left wondering whether people feel sorry for you—or at least that’s how Joel seemed to be thinking. Familiarity breeds contempt but maybe it is the contempt itself, living inside. The theme of contempt is largely emphasized through Joel’s memories. Clementine held a candle and reached for his hand: “I’m just a fucked up girl looking for her own peace of mind.”

If I never meet you, then I never have to lose you

The erasure of memories is possible at this point in humanity. I believe this film may have connected to science, in relation to the pain of loss. Science is practical in every sense—straight forward, factual, with concrete evidence. Love is not. When you put these two factors together, there is bound to be a dramatic shift in energy. Joel and Clementine represented that magnetism.

The settings changed often, taking us through difficult moments and also happy ones. It is not unusual to hold memories in your mind, maybe in the far back, a dark corner that you did not want anymore. Dreams can be very realistic, possibly connected to intuition. In this particular story, they incorporate memories through a dream-like lens. I felt transported to join every road that he’s ever walked.

Life as a Circle

There are various underlying themes in this movie that are tied to love and relationships, communication, and change. One significant theme was the idea of life coming into a full circle moment. I myself have experienced that. And like the butterfly effect, it comes back to the beginning. Sometimes, things are just meant to be.

I’ll end on this quote by Alexander Pope’s poem, Eloisa to Abelard:

“How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! 

The world forgetting, by the world forgot. 

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! 

Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d”

Watch this movie on Hulu or Prime Video.