ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

US, 2004, 108 minutes, Colour.
Jim Carrey, Kate Winslett, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson, Jane Adams, David Cross.
Directed by Michael Gondry.

The screenplay tells us that this is a quotation from Alexander Pope.

Here, the spotless mind is one that has had disagreeable memories scientifically removed so that remembering unwanted relationships becomes impossible. That premiss will begin to make sense when one hears that the screenplay is the work of the talentedly eccentric Charlie Kauffman (Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Adaptation). This one can stand right up there with all the others. It is directed by Michael Gondry, director of music videos and of the little seen, Human Nature (with Tim Robbins, Patricia Arquette, Mirando Otto).

Taking it for granted that this process could happen - and there are some sequences with a touch of the scientific that offer some plausibility about 'mapping' the brain and eliminating memories - then this story shows the consequences of the procedure (which, like all exotic and/or illicit operations, has disastrous emotional side-effects).

It is to the credit of Jim Carrey that he stays within the strict confines of a character who is bewildered by his ex-girlfriend's seeming indifference to him, discovers what has happened, agrees to the same procedure but, during the process, fights against it. There is no mugging or slapstick here. Carrey is an actor as well as a comic. Kate Winslett does well as the girlfriend, especially since the elimination of the memories starts with the present and moves backwards in time - we are witnesses to the break up, to the time together, to the first meeting. Tom Wilkinson is the scientist, Mark Ruffalo his technician, Kirstin Dunst his receptionist and Elijah Wood the assistant technician.

This film requires constant attention as well as reflection.

1. Science, psychology? Personality, emotions, relationships? Changes, loss of personality? The blending of these themes?

2. The stylish photography, the shades of winter, the blurring of memory? Memories and reality? Fantasy and memory blending? The editing and pace?

3. The previous films of Charlie Kaufmann? His themes of imagination, identity, relationships, sexuality?

4. The plausibility of the plot, the rather low-key scientific method explained for eliminating memories from the brain, the technological machinery? The imagination? What if?

5. The structure, the two meeting, the replay of what had happened and the anticipation of what was to be the ending? The elimination of memories, the reversal structure, the memories and going back to the meeting?

6. Joel and Jim Carrey's screen presence and style, less manic, more controlled? The meeting with Clementine and the beach? His waking for the day, his comments on the day, at the station, sudden decision to take the train to Montauk? In the café, Clementine watching him, her approaching him on the return trip? The attraction, talking, the night together? The effect? The insertion of the flashbacks? His friendship with Rob and Carrie? Their discussions, the information that Clementine had her memories erased? His going to the company, meeting Mary, filling in the form? The discussion with the doctor, the information about the procedure? His bewilderment, his deciding to have the memories erased? His going home, the collection of all the memorabilia of Clementine, its effect, in the plastic bags, almost run over? His going back to the office, the beginning of the process, the mapping of his memories while watching the objects? The night of the erasing of the memories, the detail, going backwards towards the meeting, the study of the relationship from its worst to its best? His hearing the name of Patrick in the background, his hesitations, his deciding to wake up, not wanting the memories erased? The beginning of the hiding with Clementine in his subconscious, in the childhood memories? Mixing his adult persona with his child persona? The ending and his waking up? The recapitulation of his going on the train, the meeting with Clementine? His hearing the tape, her being hurt, his own tape and her comments on him? The truth, his asking her to wait, being honest, the beach, the limitations of the past, trying again?

7. Howard and the Lacuna company? The interviews, the explanation of the processes, Mary at reception, her continued interest and concern for Joel? His working on the process, Stan and Patrick? His being called in the emergency, his wife listening, his getting the procedure back on track, Mary and her approach, seen kissing from outside the window, Stan and his blowing the horn when Howard's wife arrived? The confrontation with his wife, her comments to Mary? The comment on the scientist who cannot control his humanity, gets mixed up with his scientific procedures?

8. Mary, nice, welcoming Joel? Coming to the apartment, dancing with Stan, the sex, her being stoned? Her dislike of Patrick? Howard's arrival, her trying to behave, coming on to him, kissing him? In the street, the apology to Howard's wife, the wife telling her the truth? Howard explaining that her memories had been erased, what she was like, asking Stan what she was like before? Her being upset, deciding to return the tapes to all the clients?

9. Stan and his work, earnest, skilful? Working with Patrick, being easily distracted, allowing Patrick to leave? Mary's arrival, smoking, the sex? The mess of the procedure, getting Howard, leaving, standing outside, playing the horn? His commitment - but carelessness?

10. Patrick and his work, relationship with Stan, Mary's dislike of him? Being seen with Clem in the library, Joel hearing his name but not seeing him? His work for Lakuna, the phone calls from Clementine, his going to meet her, not connecting with her, her leaving him? The discussion about going to Boston?

11. Carrie and Rob, their friendship with Joel, their clashes between themselves, the beach party, the introduction to Clementine? Their clashes and giving the information?

12. The reverse order of the memories, in the mind of each, Joel seeming to be boring, sexuality, clashes? Joel and the meal, Clementine's different-coloured hair, the books and her ignorance, the meetings? The beginning again?

13. The procedure, the mixing up, the waking, Joel deciding to hide, reverting to childhood, hiding under the table, his mother watching, the sex episode? The game of smothering Clementine and vice versa? The kids and the fight? Reality and fantasy? The finding of places to hide, in the subconscious? Clementine as being part of his subconscious?

14. Themes of the facets of personality, individuation and becoming whole? The effect of the process on the protagonists, the consequences and the regrets? The process for the audience watching it and sharing it?