Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

another brilliant Charlie Kaufman screenplay

Director: Michel Gondry

 

Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) decides to skip work and take a train out to Montauk on a winter’s day. On the beach, he meets a mysterious impulsive female with blue hair named Clementine (Kate Winslet). She entices him to go to a frozen lake where they experience a moment of connection.

However, Joel suddenly becomes aware that the pair were former lovers. After a fight Clementine went to a company called Lacuna which is able to perform a bizarre operation that will erase her memories of Joel after they thoroughly explore her past history with him. The company is run by a Dr. Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson). Joel is haunted by her memory and wants to go through the same thing. It is a simple matter because it takes place while he sleeps.

The screenplay, written by Charlie Kaufman, is his usual investigation of unusual mental states, and it takes place on several levels at a time. Much of the action takes place in Joel’s mind as his memory is being erased, and so appropriate actions occur. People in the surrounding environment begin to vanish. Buildings de-construct, and the technical guys who are erasing Joel’s mind can be heard in their conversations.

The process is a magical and delightful fantasy about a state that could never exist. There are several additional storylines that play out in the film, such as the former love affair between the Lacuna secretary Mary (Kirsten Dunst) and Dr. Mierzwiak. He has erased her memory of him. Also, his assistant Patrick (Elijah Wood) is now dating Clementine, and the results of this are filtering through Joel’s mind.

It’s all confusing in a pleasant way.