Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (X3)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (x3)

Imagine if you could choose what to remember and what not to remember in your life. You wouldn’t be limited to just blocking your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend on facebook. You could go a step further: block them from your memory. No more wasted hours of stalking your ex’s wall from your best friend’s facebook account—it would be as if it never happened. However, the question is, would you come to regret forgetting everything? Michel Gondry’s 2004 romance film says yes. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the non-chronological progression of events, recurring use of repetition, and background music reinforce the film’s positive message about relationships and the memories they hold.

Although the film initially shows the protagonists’ breakup, its non-chronological progression of events leads into happier memories and empowers the film’s vision of relationships. After the misleading opening scene, the story takes off with Joel and Clementine’s relationship spiraling downwards in a whirl of arguments, fights, and hurtful words—the classic lament of many failed relationships. They are shown at their worst, leading the viewer to think that they would be better off without each other. However, as the story goes onward—and backwards in time—the memories of breakup and anger change into memories of happiness and love. At the peak of their happiness, Joel even says “I could die right now, Clem. I’m just…happy. I’ve never felt that way before. I’m just exactly where I want to be.” As Joel cycles through his memories, and recalls being happy, he quickly decides that he no longer wants to forget his memories—even if there is pain later on, the happy moments are worth it for him. However, the question of the film is, is it too late?

The story moving backwards in time acts as a metaphor for the state of mind of a recently separated couple. In the midst of a bad breakup, most couples can only remember the bad parts of the...