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Film Review
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Distributor: Roadshow (2004)
Starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslett
Screenwriter: Charlie Kaufmann
Review by Jenni van Wageningen
If you are expecting the usual Jim Carrey comedy romp (The Truman Show, Bruce Almighty, Liar Liar, The Majestic) this production will take you by surprise. While most of the movies Carrey stars in provide good food for thought as we split our sides laughing, this one with its unwieldy title falls into quite a different category.
It is a unique and clever crafted story, basically a romance, about the reserved and introverted Joel (Jim Carrey) who falls in love with the free-spirited and spontaneous Clementine, his opposite in every respect. The troubled relationship soon begins to unravel. Clementine decides she want to forget all about Joel and consults a brain surgeon who specializes in removing unwanted memories. When Joel realises what has happened, he also decides to undergo this rather extraordinary overnight procedure. However, he comes to realise that losing his difficult and bittersweet memories could be more painful than living with them.
Each opts to erase all memories of each other, not in order to make a fresh start and improve their relationship, but to avoid pain and problems and enable them continue their bland and pointless lives. Commitment, fidelity and real intimacy are not even considered relevant, and as the screenwriter (Kaufmann) said in his discussion of this movie, “I refuse to put a moral on it.” In spite of this there is much of real interest to be gleaned by the discerning viewer.
The movie clearly reflects aspects of existentialism which sees people living alienated from each other in an essentially meaningless world. They are responsible for their own actions to shape their own characters and destinies without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong.
The idea of being able to wipe the slate clean so that our problems are consigned to oblivion and we can achieve happiness and contentment has a certain appeal. We all have unhappy experiences we would prefer to forget.
Yet there is no easy way out. We have to face up to our mistakes, weather difficult times and avoid the temptation of the soft option if we are to grow as individuals and strengthen the bonds in our relationships. Dealing with negative experiences is worthwhile in the end and suffering can produce character and inner strength. The movie of course suggests, somewhat cynically, that ‘memory erasure’ can provide Joel and Clementine with a way of side-stepping their issues and irritations, and release them into ‘the eternal sunshine of the spotless mind’.
Where the movie appears to question whether human beings are really able to change or be changed, the Bible makes a clear case for the opposite. To accept our innate sinfulness and to depend on God’s help to overcome our deficiencies is the first step. At the same we have certain responsibilities in our dealings with others, and the life choices we make will affect our future. God can also use troubled relationships to teach us and to help us grow closer to him.
The possibility of cleaning up the past, setting things right, and erasing all the hurts and wrongs we have done to those we love has great appeal. In the Christian context, this sounds suspiciously like forgiveness and reconciliation! We can be thankful that with Jesus Christ we can be assured of fresh starts and new beginnings.
There are many other interesting strands to mull over in this intriguing and quirky movie. In spite of the title it is far from cheerful and because of its disturbing undertones it may not appeal to everyone.
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