Thoughts on Memento (2000)

   Over the weekend I watched the film Memento, directed by Christopher Nolan (Batman Trilogy, Inception) in 2000. The main character, played by Guy Pearce, is unable to store new memories after his accident but seeks revenge for his murdered wife through hand written notes and tattoos. However, Christopher Nolan presented the film in a unconventional yet meaningful timeline: a sequences of scenes in black-and-white are shown chronologically but interwoven with a sequence of colour scenes shown in reverse order. The two sequences converge at the end of the film.

   Not only did this non linear narrative structure enhance the intricate and complex plot, it also mimicked the protagonist's helpless situation in which he is incapable of generating new memories. Thus, Nolan creates a masterpiece that is thrillingly haunting and at the same time, thought-provoking and ambiguous.




   Many film critics have classified Memento as a neo-noir film, as it manifests many of the typical noir characteristics (setting, femme fatale, moral ambiguity) while displaying modern themes of neo-noir films (identity, memory, revenge). The film is a must-watch for its innovative structure, brilliant acting and stimulating plot.

                              The protagonist's memory flaw is shown masterfully in this scene.
                              Caution: Outburst of profanity