Culture news Memento directed by Christopher Nolan explained: we had to wait 24 years to understand everything!
Published on 05/20/2024 at 8:45 p.m.
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Christopher Nolan, known for his complex and disconcerting storylines, left an indelible mark on Hollywood with his films with sophisticated plots. Long before troubling us with “Tenet,” Nolan presented us in 2000 with “Memento,” a cerebral neo-noir thriller that continues to raise questions among viewers even 24 years after its release.
Summary
- A New Narrative Puzzle
- Two Timelines for Complete Immersion
- The Polaroid and Tattoo System
- The Use of Black and White and Color
- The Mystery of Sammy Jankis
- The True Destiny of Leonard’s Woman
A New Narrative Puzzle
“Memento,” adapted from a story by Jonathan Nolan, brother of Christopher, follows the misadventures of Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a former insurance investigator suffering from anterograde amnesia, which prevents him from forming new memories. To track down the man who attacked his wife and himself, Leonard uses Polaroids and tattoos as reminders and clues. But the real uniqueness of “Memento” lies in its bold narrative structure: a combination of color sequences told in reverse and black-and-white scenes unfolding in a linear fashion.
Two Timelines for Complete Immersion
Nolan’s decision to use two separate timelines helps recreate Leonard’s experience for the viewer. The color timeline reflects Leonard’s inability to form new memories, immersing the viewer in a constant process of discovery and confusion. By starting the film with the end – Leonard killing Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) – and gradually revealing the previous events, Nolan puts the viewer in the shoes of Leonard, helpless and disoriented.
The Polaroid and Tattoo System
To compensate for his failing memory, Leonard relies on Polaroids and tattoos. The photos remind him of his friends, where he lives and his car, while his tattoos provide him with crucial clues to finding his wife’s killer. However, this system proves precarious and subject to manipulation, including by Leonard himself, thus highlighting the fragility of his memories and his quest for truth.
The Use of Black and White and Color
The alternation between black and white and color in “Memento” is not a simple aesthetic choice, but a crucial narrative technique. Color scenes run backwards, with each new scene preceding the previous one, while black and white scenes progress chronologically. This juxtaposition is intended to immerse the viewer in Leonard’s confusion. At the end of the film, these two timelines converge, symbolized by a Polaroid photo that changes from black and white to color, marking the junction of the two timelines.
The Mystery of Sammy Jankis
A central element of “Memento” is the story of Sammy Jankis, a man suffering from the same condition as Leonard. Leonard remembers Sammy as an old case he studied when he was an insurance investigator. The tragedy of Sammy, whose wife died of an insulin overdose, initially serves as a warning for Leonard. However, it is revealed that Sammy may never have existed and that his story may actually be Leonard’s, altered to allow him to carry the guilt of his own wife’s death.
The True Destiny of Leonard’s Woman
One of the most notable twists in “Memento” is the revelation that Leonard already killed the man responsible for his wife’s death a year before the events of the film. Teddy also suggests that Sammy’s story is actually Leonard’s and that it was Leonard who accidentally killed his wife by overdosing on insulin. This revelation calls into question the reliability of Leonard’s memories and casts doubt on his wife’s true destiny.
Even after 24 years, “Memento” remains a masterpiece of narrative complexity. Christopher Nolan has not only challenged the conventions of cinematic storytelling, but also created an immersive experience that continues to captivate and confuse viewers. Fully understanding “Memento” requires careful attention and a willingness to delve into the intricacies of memory and identity. It’s this depth and ambiguity that makes “Memento” a timeless film, inspiring viewers to revisit its mysteries again and again.
