Feeling sunshiny about a near spotless movie

One cinematic hybrid you don’t see every day? A sci-fi romcom. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), directed by Michel Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman from a story by Kaufman, Gondry, and Pierre Bismuth, certainly fits that description. In this surreal 21st century masterwork, we follow Joel Barish (Jim Carrey), a reserved man who discovers his ex-girlfriend Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) has undergone a procedure to erase their relationship from her memory; heartbroken, he chooses to do the same, but as his memories are systematically erased, he realizes he still loves her and desperately tries to hold onto fragments of their connection. (It’s interesting to keep in mind that, in addition to being a fantasy, this is a science fiction story; with the rapid pace of technology and scientific innovation, it’s not far-fetched to envision a near-future where the wiping of selective memories is possible.)

The narrative also includes subplots involving Dr. Howard Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson), who runs the memory-erasure company Lacuna Inc.; Mary Svevo (Kirsten Dunst), his receptionist with complicated ties to the procedure; Patrick (Elijah Wood), a technician who exploits Joel’s memories to pursue Clementine; and Stan (Mark Ruffalo), another technician entangled with Mary.

Acclaimed for its clever script, inventive visuals, and poignant exploration of memory, love, and identity, the picture features career-defining performances—particularly Carrey’s against-type dramatic role and Winslet’s unpredictable, vibrant Clementine—and won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, cementing its status as one of the most original and influential films of its era.

To listen to a recording of our CineVerse group discussion of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, recorded last week, click here. (If you get an error message, simply try refreshing the page)

This is a nonlinear narrative that can be tricky to follow because it dovetails in on itself, possibly starting with the ending and including several surreal and fantastical moments that we realize are happening in Joel’s mind. The fragmented nature of this storytelling makes Eternal Sunshine a compelling watch but one that you have to pay close attention to.

Carrey plays against type here, and deserves applause for exceptional restraint. He stays firmly in character as the melancholic Joel and resists any attempts at slapstick, broad comedy, or the manic energy we associate with him. As in previous films like The Truman Show and Man on the Moon, he demonstrates serious dramatic talent and versatility.

Winslet, on the other hand, serves as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, a character christened by Nathan Rabin as a female personality who “exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.” She’s a classic screwball dame in a 21st century story, leading her lover on a madcap and mysterious journey – this time through her male counterpart’s very psyche. She’s responsible for the several meet-cutes we observe, another trope that’s playfully explored by the filmmakers.

The script is ultra-clever in how it Joel’s memories as fragmented and wobbly. He isn’t exactly sure which memory happened first or next. The genius stroke here is how Kaufman and his collaborators have Joel change his mind on the memory erasure and empower Joel to hide his memories of Clementine by imagining the two of them as young kids. “Joel attempts to fight the erasure of his memories, and Eternal Sunshine admits early on that it’s a fight he cannot win. That he keeps on fighting anyway is the crux of the film, and a breakthrough for Kaufman—writing about the human condition more than questioning our lives as self-made fictions,” per Slant Magazine critic Jeremiah Kipp. “The fantasies here are more “real” than anything that Kaufman has ever written, because they define who we think we are. Joel rediscovers his love for Clementine through fantasy, which is to say through his clouded memories of her. Such things are precious, and Gondry revels in that world in all its fleeting, flickering, ever-mutating joys.”

The famous quotation, “’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, perhaps best summarizes the main message of this film. Joel learns the hard way that a romantic relationship can be cruel and painful, but typically the happy memories and love shared outweigh the negative moments.

The cautionary lesson here is that our memories and experiences – both the good and bad ones – are indispensable. They are integral to shaping our identities, provide purpose and meaning to our lives, help us grow and mature, and teach us how to avoid making the same mistakes. Permanently forgetting or erasing these recollections, impressions, and life episodes can leave a significant void (which happens to dementia/Alzheimer’s sufferers and their loved ones). This work suggests that it would be dangerous and damaging if we had the ability to pick and choose only the memories we want to keep. Roger Ebert tapped into this theme: “The wisdom in “Eternal Sunshine” is how it illuminates the way memory interacts with love. We more readily recall pleasure than pain. From the hospital I remember laughing nurses and not sleepless nights. A drunk remembers the good times better than the hangovers. A failed political candidate remembers the applause. An unsuccessful romantic lover remembers the times when it worked. What Joel and Clementine cling to are those perfect moments when lives seem blessed by heaven, and sunshine will fall upon it forever.”

Additionally, Eternal Sunshine espouses the value of rediscovery and reinvention. By resisting the erasure of his memories associated with Clementine, Joel essentially creates a reboot opportunity whereby he can fall in love with her all over again, with the possibility of reconstructing their relationship, hopefully with better outcomes. While viewers don’t have the option of erasing their memories (yet), the takeaway here is that it can be possible to start over with someone, sidestep past mistakes, and appreciate your partner for their positive qualities.

The movie further deserves applause for cleverly exploring love triangles, with paralleling threesomes: Joel, Clementine, and Patrick form one triangle versus Stan, Mary, and Dr. Mierzwiak, who represent the other triangle.

Similar works

• Superman II (1981), particularly the ending where the titular character kisses Lois Lane to erase her memory
• Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation (2002), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Synecdoche, New York (2008), all written by Charlie Kaufman
• Memento (2000)
• Her (2013)
• 50 First Dates (2004)
• Anomalisa (2015)
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
• Shakespeare’s The Tempest

Other films by Michel Gondry

• Human Nature (2001)
• The Science of Sleep (2006)
• Be Kind Rewind (2008)
• Mood Indigo (2013) The Book of Solutions (2023)