Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Written by Charlie Kaufman & Pierre Bismuth & Michel Gondry
Directed by Michel Gondry

“You know me, I’m impulsive.” ~ Clementine

“That’s what I love about you.” ~ Joel

About the movie:

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind follows an estranged couple who have erased each other from their memories. Pierre Bismuth created the story with Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry. The ensemble cast includes Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood and Tom Wilkinson.

The title of the film is a quotation from Eloisa to Abelard, by Alexander Pope.

Featuring psychological thriller elements and using a nonlinear narrative to explore the nature of memory and romantic love, the film opened in North America to wide acclaim on March 19, 2004, and grossed over $70 million worldwide.

The movie won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and Kate Winslet received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Since its release, and initial recognition, the movie has developed a cult following.

“Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” :: Beck

My Thoughts:

This movie, my forever favorite film, touches something in me that is impossible to articulate, something beyond words, and typed out explanations. Since the first time I watched the movie I felt a deep kinship with the character of Clementine, so much so that watching her hurts sometimes.

Other times, though, it gives me a strange comfort in not being alone in my own flavor of fucked up girl-ness. I get her. I get Joel. I get what they have, what they lose, and what they fight so damn hard to hold on to.

This is a love story to me, the most real kind of love story, so perfect in all its glaring, fucked up imperfectness.

“I’m not a concept, Joel. I’m just a fucked up girl whose looking for my own peace of mind. I’m not perfect.” ~ Clementine