REMEMBER SUNDAY
US, 2013, 96 minutes, Colour.
Alexis Bledel, Zachary Levi, Merritt Weaver, Barry Shabaka Henley, Valerie Azlynn, David Hoffman.
Directed by Jeff Blekner.
Remember Sunday was made for television and for television audience, a wide home audience for its interest and emotional response.
Alexis Bledel was well known for her appearance in the long-running series, The Gilmore Girls. Zachary Levi had been the lead in the television series, Chuck. They both have a telling screen presence.
Audiences will be reminded of Groundhog Day and the repetition of each day – except that in this case Gus, Zachary Levi, has suffered an aneurysm and an effect on the circuitry of his brain so that he has long-term memories before the incident but sleep deletes immediate memories. He has been a top scientist in California and has a love for astronomy but works in a jeweller’s shop, day by day. His sister and his boyhood friend have been very good to him, working at mechanisms by which he can function with cues and notes and recorded conversations which can be listened to as well as transcribed on the computer – although, a power blowout does prevent the continuing of an interrupted process.
Molly works at a restaurant, her life somewhat in disarray, her expecting a substantial inheritance from a great aunt but it has been long delayed. She does some business studies and has a plan to open a flower shop. She has some chance encounters with Gus and is attracted to him. Much of the drama in the film concerns Gus getting the information to help him cope day by day, with meeting with Molly, even though he does not remember her. She has no idea, responds well to him and the way that he copes, cuts him off when he tries to explain the situation to her, being hurt by his seeming neglect but meeting Gus’s sister who explains the situation to her.
Molly is still in love, wants to help Gus, even arranges for him to go to Mount Wilson in California where he worked and the the affirmation of his fellow-workers – which he will not remember.
Audiences may be expecting – and many audiences hoping for – a happy ending and resolution, but it does not come… Audiences would have to imagine what the future for each of them might be.
1. A humane story? Health? Love? And an open-ended finale?
2. New Orleans, the city, the views, the streetcars, homes, shops, cafes? The trip to Mount Wilson and the Observatory? The musical score?
3. Audiences identifying with the plot, Gus and his life, the experience with his brain, the past memories, the loss of immediate memory, his mechanisms for coping? Audiences identifying with Molly, her situation, work, awkwardness, roommate, waiting for her inheritance, the dreams of the flower shop?
4. The title, Gus and his mechanisms to help him remember, the notes, recording conversations, their being transcribed on the computer – and the power blowouts and the difficulties of maintaining the cues for help? His situation, the brain circuitry and the aneurysm, the loss of immediate memory, especially when sleeping? The potential surgery – and its failure with Gus? His past career, his expertise, his research, his doctoral work? His love for astronomy, his telescope, the stars, comets, his explanations to Molly? His working in the jeweller’s shop, the friendliness of the jeweller, the problems with the lost diamond, the insurance, his having to be fired? The devotion of his sister, her daily help, Jerry and their friendship, his continued helping (and exasperation that each day Gus were not remember that he is divorced) and letting Gus know about what was happening?
5. Molly, Baptiste and the work at the restaurant, the encounter with Gus, the flowers, hearing him speak? Using his machine and the message? Going to the jeweller’s shop, her great aunt’s ring – and Gus later finding it, fixing it, giving it back? Gus giving her the $200? Her roommate, the roommate helping her out, urging her on – and the later clashes with Gus and trying to protect her? Going to the studies, the lecturer, his encouragement, her paper on the plan for the flower shop and his praise? Her car breaking down, clamped…?
6. Gus, the friendship with Molly, the notes, the photo, his coping with the dates, the power blowouts and his missing the date, Jerry helping him, buying the flowers, visiting? The variety of dates, walking, meals, looking through the telescope? His wanting to tell Molly the truth, her response, cutting him off, looking at things from her own perspective, not realising his experiences?
7. Gus standing her up, her decision to break with him? The encounter with Gus’s sister, her explanations, the effect on Molly? Her love, wanting to help? Remember Sunday and the trip to California, the Observatory, his hesitation, his colleagues with him, the praise and affirmation, Molly meeting Lauren and the story of their past engagement? The joy for Gus but is not being able to remember it?
8. Molly, the plans for the surgery – and the revelation that Gus had had this and it had failed?
9. The finding of the diamond, Gus getting his job back, giving Molly her ring, Molly and her love – what future for each of them?
10. The strong ending, not easy, the demands on Gus, the demands on Molly? And the emotional response of the audience?
