The Matrix and Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

The film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of those movies that people tend to either love or hate. Critics generally raved about it, but if you look on web-sites that allow people to post their own reviews, you find a fair number of “one-star” ratings and complaints that the film was confusing, pretentious, or just plain boring. On the other hand, those who like the film tend to really like it, giving it five stars and admitting to having seen the film multiple times in the theatre. Why do the fans of this film seem so, well, fanatic in their devotion? Although I think much of their appreciation has its base in the sensitive and creative direction of Michel Gondry, the clever script from Charlie Kaufman, the beautifully melancholy score by Jon Brion, and the impressive performances by all the actors involved (Gondry, pp. 20-25).

In the movie, the protagonist, Joel, wakes up on Valentine's Day, skips work, takes a train to Montauk, and meets Clementine. Although Joel and Clementine have just broken off their two-year relationship, neither can remember the other or their relationship, because they have each recently undergone a process of memory erasure in an attempt to forget the past and avoid the pain of breaking up.

Most of the essays in the book focus upon the effects that erasing memories would have on relationships. C. D. C. Reeve writes about the roots of love. He explains that love's roots lie deep, and, particularly in the case of Joel, in childhood. Thus, erasing Joel's memories of Clementine results in the erasure of some of his memories of formative childhood events. Reeve argues that erasing all memories of a lover, and thus all the memories of the childhood events that cause the attraction and behavior in the relationship, would leave one with no ability to love, at all (Grove, pp. 48-49).

Troy Jollimore discusses some of Nietzsche's philosophical concepts that arise in the film. He focuses upon affirmation the notion of affirming one's life and relationships -- and upon the doctrine of eternal recurrence the doctrine that one ought to live one's life as though each act will be done exactly the same way over and over again. Jollimore makes the case that the movie portrays Joel and Clementine's decision to begin another relationship as an act of affirmation that is in accordance with the doctrine of eternal recurrence.

George Toles also takes up the notion of eternal recurrence and its relevance to the film. In addition to the recurrence that is involved in Joel and Clementine's second relationship, Toles discusses recurrence with respect to a repeat viewing of the movie. Toles's essay also includes a wonderful analysis of the scenes in Montauk and the interaction and dialogue between Joel and Clementine (Cardullo, pp. 35-40).

Stephen L. White writes about philosophical issues with regard to the making of the film. White considers the ways that Gondry challenges certain ...