Nathaniel Rogers' fantastic "Hit me with your best shot" series is back, kicking off the season with Michel Gondry's popular "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". The film is one that I'd seen twice before and it still manages to feel fresh every time I watch it. It's also a film that improves on repeat viewings. On my first watch, the narrative structure lost me but by this latest viewing it made such beautiful, brilliant sense. In terms of individual images, I did however find it difficult to choose my favorite shot. Despite some iconic shots and overall visual playfulness, it's not a film that strikes me for its imagery. For me, it's more noteworthy for its thought-provoking script and fine performances (Kate Winslet's line readings slay me). For my chosen shot then, I looked for a moment that best expressed my feelings towards this film.
Click below for my favorite shot...
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is undoubtedly very touching. However, its central premise is decidedly unromantic and quite dark. Really, to voluntarily submit yourself to brain damage to remove the memory of your partner takes a very serious committment. It's why the moment depicted above stands out to me. Especially when Clementine says..."Come back and make up a good-bye at least. Let's pretend we had one."
Normally, relationships would dissolve with a formal acknowledgement. In this case however, Clementine and Joel never actually said goodbye, they just decided to eliminate each other from their memory. So now he's filled with regret, watching her fade away into the darkness with those final memories crumbling down like that beach house. In this moment, Joel is finally accepting some of the blame in pushing Clementine away. His cowardly departure in their original beach house encounter is repeated somewhat in the form of their present-day procedures. Of course, it's likely that his cowardice may just be an indication of their incompatibility. Clementine may be a manic pixie dream girl, but she's much less codependent than he is.
As I stare at this image then, I wondered...is Clementine really a ray of light or just a vice that will eventually bring Joel back into misery and destruction? It's a question that many persons face when entering potentially destructive (albeit passionate) relationships. It's true that love can be painful, but loneliness can be just as depressing. Like the film's pitch-perfect ending then, we therefore owe it to ourselves to give love the "old college try".
