"Memento" Response

Film Memento Response

Directed by Christopher Nolan

In the very beginning, the film starts with the present, which is in color. The Memento utilizes multiple dimensions and overlapping of flashbacks that create a temporal labyrinth. The film is regressive in its plot, and alternates between the present and the past, which can be differentiated through subtle change in color scheme: the past is shown in black and white. Because the past is shown progressive and the present is regressive, as the film reaches its conclusion, the past and the present meet, allowing the audience to finally complete the “factual” plot inside their heads.

Temporal labyrinth is also created by distortion and loss of the protagonist Leonard’s memory. His “facts” are created around his physical manipulation and destruction of memory, and its footages on Polaroid images, and play major role in creating alternate reality for Leonard and confusion for the audience. The facts including information tattooed on Leonard’s body, Polaroid pictures, and notes not only misguide Leonard, but also the audience.

Time is what allows us to look back, move forward, and identify ourselves and those who surround us. The loss of linear time sequence of the film coerces the audience to think and try to organize the non-linear plot into linear sequence. Just like how one can never escape the labyrinth without trial and error, the audience has to guess and constantly organize the new information given throughout the film in order to understand the storyline. The Memento goes beyond its storyline and allows the audience to make multiple assumptions and branch off of the original plot, creating a temporal labyrinth of alternate plots inside the head.