These are used to show how characters and themes are portrayed. These include (with examples):
Music:
At the start the music is quirky and playful. It helps lighten the awkward mood when they first meet (for the second time). The music is painfully sad when we see Joel crying in the car after they've broken up.
Dialogue:
Could be described as comfortable and familiar. The tone in many of the scenes in Joel's memories shows how at ease they are with each other. It helps to show they are a good match. Joel is the one who says stupid things (ironic, as he is the shy one), "constantly talking isn't necessarily communicating", and "actually, I presumed you did f* someone tonight. Isn't that how you get people to like you?".
Special effects (SFX):
These are used in the memory deletion sequences in Joel's head. They are numerous and almost all represent how the memories are being deleted and show how things disappear in the background. Sometimes they are subtle (barely noticeable), sometimes they are very obvious (think of the titles at the bookstore or the house at the end, their first memory crumbling just as he is coming to terms with their relationship. When he first gets the procedure done, it adds to the confusion for Joel (and for the audience- we are very linked with Joel in this movie as we are finding things out when he does).
Colour:
The best example in this movie is Clementine. She wears a tangerine coloured hoodie and keeps changing the colour of her hair. This helps to define her personality. She is extroverted and quirky and outgoing. She speaks her mind and does what she likes. Much of the film is grainy and colourless such as the gray beach covered in white snow. The happier memories tend to have more colour (the kitchen scene when Joel is a boy, the scene in the bright autumn woods).
Camera Work:
Refer to our close viewing. Many of the shots are done with hand-held cameras which gives us the effect that we are right beside them, watching their relationship develop as witnesses. It makes it realistic because the relationship is a "real" relationship (as opposed to a spectacular Hollywood romance).
Narrative point of view:
This movie follows the point of view of Joel. It is narrated briefly by him at the start. He talks his thoughts out loud in his memories ("this is where we first met"). We follow him from the start (he has to figure things out, just like we do).
Lighting:
Most noticeable in the memories. Joel is followed around by a spotlight which symbolizes what he remembers, what he is forgetting is turning into darkness. Light=good dark=bad.
Characterization
This is how characters are revealed.
The main character is Joel. He is revealed as a fairly ordinary guy who one day wakes up and does something impulsive ("Montauk in winter. It's freezing") . Why does he do this? We hear his inner monologue and find out he is sad, lonely, and is reflecting on his failings in life and in his relationships. We see his initial contact with Clementine that he is awkward and shy but honest.
The characteristics of a character are often shown by their relationships with other characters. We get the feeling that their relationship is meant to be from the start. They are an odd couple but suit each other. They are interesting people and will be easy to compare and contrast if you are asked in an exam.
Clem, as we have discussed, is shown by the production techniques of dialogue and colour. She is definitely not shy and is the one who initiates contact between them. Much of Clem's characterization is done in Joel's flashbacks and memories. We see many, many times how their relationship was easy and comfortable and this is what prompts Joel to try and save the memory of her.
Some things to consider: When does Joel show insight? How do we know he has learnt a lesson in life? Does he become a better person by the end? Does Clementine have an epiphany (a grand realization)?
Here is a brief character study of Joel and Clementine that you can add to:
Joel:
Wears black clothes, wears a black beany, reads a lot, is shy but intelligent. The movie begins with his waking up and he has to put things together, just like the audience. He sometimes speaks without thinking and this gets him in trouble.
Clementine:
First appears out of focus in the background at beach but is immediately noticeable in orange. She 'Irishes' her coffee in the cafe. Is extroverted and waves to Joel at the train station in a geeky, shameless and comical fashion, following him when he tries to hide from her. Her character is mostly developed in Joel's memories. This is where we learn most about her personality and, even though she is a figment of Joel's imagination, we can imagine that the 'real' Clem would find this game of "hiding the memory" fun.
Other characters are: Mary (the receptionist), Dr Howard Mierzwiak, Stan, Patrick. These characters play a strange but parallel sub-plot, each of them has a weakness and use or perform the procedure for different reasons. Stan and Patrick especially have a weakness for women that do not want them, Dr Howard has a weakness for younger women. Patrick is also very creepy and almost devoid of morals. Mary tries desperately to impress Dr Howard with her intelligence (quoting from a quote book, and not the original sources). We can tell she is not very intelligent as she makes out though this doesn't stop Dr Howard.
Themes
Love:
The main theme is love and Joel and Clementine are involved. The story begins with a long introduction (it is about 17 minutes into the film before the credits start). It establishes who the characters are and what they are doing. In this case it is the progression of a developing relationship from the awkward beginning to a point where we know they will end up together. The roles are portrayed by Carrey and Winslet so well that we believe they are an odd but believable couple. The film immediately cuts to Joel crying in the car and we are led to believe that this is well into the future when they break up, not just a couple of days before when they meet on the beach.
Other themes, mostly connected with love, are: Trust:
Patrick breaks Clem's trust by falling in love with her while she is a sleep. The ending where they get back together is based entirely that they trust each other and their instincts (see: fate)
Fate:
What is the difference between Joel saying the lines and giving the presents to when Patrick says the same things to Clem? It doesn't feel right for her, it wasn't meant to be. The same goes for Mary and Dr Howard. What makes her gravitate back towards Dr Howard even after her memory of him was erased? How did Clementine know to go to the beach on Valentines day? If Joel had not of had the procedure done would he have gone to Montauk that day and re-met Clem?
Loss:
There comes a point where Joel feels so sentimental that he no longer wants to have the procedure done. Unfortunately for him, this is half way through the procedure when he is heavily sedated (Stan and Mary get drunk and dance on his bed). The movie has a realistic feel because many of us can relate to Joel's sense of loss when Clem leaves him. We understand what he is gong through on a very human level because we have all cried and gotten mad when someone we care about leaves us.
Memory:
Why do we remember things a certain way? Over time, Joel would have forgotten the bad things about their relationship. He realises that he wants to keep the good ones. I think this is what will ultimately doom their relationship if they give it another go. They will soon start to remember the bad things, the things that annoy each other, why they ended it in the first place.
Science Fiction:
This procedure is not real though the movie makes it look believable. It raises questions (mostly through the character of Mary) as to how ethical it is what they do to people (is it right or wrong).
Conflict
Are there any conflict that show the themes? What is the difference between an internal conflict and an external conflict? The biggest external conflict is between Clementine and Joel. The fact that she erases him seemingly on a whim. The internal conflict lies within Joel, at first whether he should have the procedure done also, then, how to save the memory of Clem.
In the sub-plot, there are many conflicts. Between Dr Howard, Mary and his wife, between Stan and Mary, between Mary and herself (should she release all the tapes back to the people? Is what they are doing ethical?)
Plot and Structure
The plot is the order of events, the structure is the way they are organised. In "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MInd" the stucture is non-linear and jumps around between 3 main time frames:
1) The present time. This is established at the start. Joel wakes up and impulsively goes to Montauk. He meets Clem, they end up back at hers, he leaves. The next day they go to the frozen river, they go home and Clem goes to get her toothbrush. (The movie cuts to the past at this point and this story continues later on in the movie). While inside Clem grabs her mail and with it is the tape sent by Mary. In the car they listen to the tape and the movie heads towards its climax- will they get (back) together?
2) The immediate past. This is 3 days before Valentine's Day. It begins with Joel crying in the car. This is immediately after the end of their relationship. He tries to figure things out by talking to his friends. The man gives him the letter from Lacuna explaining what Clem has done and Joel then decides to do the procedure too.
3) The distant past. We learn all about their relationship through Joel's memories.
Things get confusing for the view the first time because these three time frames are mixed together. This is to show the confusion that Joel faces during the procedure because he is having flashbacks of his past 2 years with Clem.
Here are some terms to learn about plot and structure:
BEGINNING:
We begin the movie near the end. Joel wakes and hears a car door closing. He pulls off the sheets and sees himself in new pyjamas and looks confused. He discovers the car has been damaged and thinks the neighbours have done it. We hear his thoughts as a voiceover as he waits for the train. He is feeling "out-of-sorts". Something is up and he doesn't know what. He is in a reflective mood, thinking about love. There are a few clues and signposts in their first conversation: "Do I know you?"(Clem), "I would have thought I'd remember" (Joel), the song "Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Clementine, You were lost and gone forever, oh my darling Clementine". They form an immediate bond and this is evident in their intimacy. The purpose of the long introduction sequence is to give the impression that this is their first meeting. It ends with a sharp contrast of a cut to Joel crying, at night, in the rain, in his car listening to sad music.
TURNING POINT:
The turning point for Joel is during the memory in the forest in autumn. He decides he does not want the procedure anymore and the memory of Clem tells him to wake up- which he does, but only momentarily. This begins the complications during the procedure.
ENDING:
The ending is where a character shows change in him or herself. It is where the story offers a resolution (ie. an ending that satisfies the story). As a class we have decided that they do get together at the end but we as viewers are left to decide for ourselves if it will work this time or will they actually rediscover all the little annoying things that ended their relationship in the first place.
CRISIS:
Every story has an event (a crisis) that begins the main story. Joel's first crisis is in the bookstore when Clem does not recognise him and already has a new boyfriend. This begins the chain of events in the story. Clem has already had her crisis and dealt with it, however, the narrative point of view is through Joel's perspective.
CONFLICT:
Joel's conflict is what now to do about Clem. He wants to save the relationship but can't if she doesn't recognise him. The next conflict is when his friends shows him the letter. Should he now do the same to her?
CLIMAX:
The climactic moment in this movie is just before the resolution. It occurs in the hallway when Clem is leaving Joel forever after hearing the tapes. Joel calls out, "Wait. Just wait." Clem says, "Why" and Joel replies, "I don't know, just wait." The audience has been waiting for this moment- will they get back together.
SUB-PLOT:
The sub-plots in this movie parallel the main plot. The affair between Dr Howard and Mary has the same ethical dilemma about selective memory loss and whether it is the right thing to do. It also raises the question- can you stop natural feelings (or fate, if you believe in fate)? Even after the procedure Mary is still naturally attracted to Dr Howard. This is the same force that makes Joel and Clem gravitate back to each other after the procedure. There is another sub-plot about Patrick and Clem forming a relationship.
Setting and Context
The setting is the where and when. Context is the situation or circumstance of the events.
What is the main setting?
The main time and place is in New York in February, in the 3 days leading up to Valentine's Day. It is 2004.
Does the setting affect the characters or the story?
Valentine's Day is significant because of its obvious symbolism. Montauk beach in February is freezing and has snow on it. This is unconventional as a Hollywood movie love would normally be connected with a hot beach with semi-naked people etc.. this is another way of showing that their relationship is unconventional, the story of their love is unconventional. This contributes to the feeling that this movie is realistic (along with the camera work, lighting, acting, etc...).
Symbol
What symbols are there in this movie?
What do they mean?
How effective are they?
When and where are they shown?
How do they help to show themes?
Production Techniques
These are used to show how characters and themes are portrayed. These include (with examples):
Music:
At the start the music is quirky and playful. It helps lighten the awkward mood when they first meet (for the second time). The music is painfully sad when we see Joel crying in the car after they've broken up.
Dialogue:
Could be described as comfortable and familiar. The tone in many of the scenes in Joel's memories shows how at ease they are with each other. It helps to show they are a good match. Joel is the one who says stupid things (ironic, as he is the shy one), "constantly talking isn't necessarily communicating", and "actually, I presumed you did f* someone tonight. Isn't that how you get people to like you?".
Special effects (SFX):
These are used in the memory deletion sequences in Joel's head. They are numerous and almost all represent how the memories are being deleted and show how things disappear in the background. Sometimes they are subtle (barely noticeable), sometimes they are very obvious (think of the titles at the bookstore or the house at the end, their first memory crumbling just as he is coming to terms with their relationship. When he first gets the procedure done, it adds to the confusion for Joel (and for the audience- we are very linked with Joel in this movie as we are finding things out when he does).
Colour:
The best example in this movie is Clementine. She wears a tangerine coloured hoodie and keeps changing the colour of her hair. This helps to define her personality. She is extroverted and quirky and outgoing. She speaks her mind and does what she likes. Much of the film is grainy and colourless such as the gray beach covered in white snow. The happier memories tend to have more colour (the kitchen scene when Joel is a boy, the scene in the bright autumn woods).
Camera Work:
Refer to our close viewing. Many of the shots are done with hand-held cameras which gives us the effect that we are right beside them, watching their relationship develop as witnesses. It makes it realistic because the relationship is a "real" relationship (as opposed to a spectacular Hollywood romance).
Narrative point of view:
This movie follows the point of view of Joel. It is narrated briefly by him at the start. He talks his thoughts out loud in his memories ("this is where we first met"). We follow him from the start (he has to figure things out, just like we do).
Lighting:
Most noticeable in the memories. Joel is followed around by a spotlight which symbolizes what he remembers, what he is forgetting is turning into darkness. Light=good dark=bad.
Characterization
This is how characters are revealed.
The main character is Joel. He is revealed as a fairly ordinary guy who one day wakes up and does something impulsive ("Montauk in winter. It's freezing") . Why does he do this? We hear his inner monologue and find out he is sad, lonely, and is reflecting on his failings in life and in his relationships. We see his initial contact with Clementine that he is awkward and shy but honest.
The characteristics of a character are often shown by their relationships with other characters. We get the feeling that their relationship is meant to be from the start. They are an odd couple but suit each other. They are interesting people and will be easy to compare and contrast if you are asked in an exam.
Clem, as we have discussed, is shown by the production techniques of dialogue and colour. She is definitely not shy and is the one who initiates contact between them. Much of Clem's characterization is done in Joel's flashbacks and memories. We see many, many times how their relationship was easy and comfortable and this is what prompts Joel to try and save the memory of her.
Some things to consider: When does Joel show insight? How do we know he has learnt a lesson in life? Does he become a better person by the end? Does Clementine have an epiphany (a grand realization)?
Here is a brief character study of Joel and Clementine that you can add to:
Joel:
Wears black clothes, wears a black beany, reads a lot, is shy but intelligent. The movie begins with his waking up and he has to put things together, just like the audience. He sometimes speaks without thinking and this gets him in trouble.
Clementine:
First appears out of focus in the background at beach but is immediately noticeable in orange. She 'Irishes' her coffee in the cafe. Is extroverted and waves to Joel at the train station in a geeky, shameless and comical fashion, following him when he tries to hide from her. Her character is mostly developed in Joel's memories. This is where we learn most about her personality and, even though she is a figment of Joel's imagination, we can imagine that the 'real' Clem would find this game of "hiding the memory" fun.
Other characters are: Mary (the receptionist), Dr Howard Mierzwiak, Stan, Patrick. These characters play a strange but parallel sub-plot, each of them has a weakness and use or perform the procedure for different reasons. Stan and Patrick especially have a weakness for women that do not want them, Dr Howard has a weakness for younger women. Patrick is also very creepy and almost devoid of morals. Mary tries desperately to impress Dr Howard with her intelligence (quoting from a quote book, and not the original sources). We can tell she is not very intelligent as she makes out though this doesn't stop Dr Howard.
Themes
Love:
The main theme is love and Joel and Clementine are involved. The story begins with a long introduction (it is about 17 minutes into the film before the credits start). It establishes who the characters are and what they are doing. In this case it is the progression of a developing relationship from the awkward beginning to a point where we know they will end up together. The roles are portrayed by Carrey and Winslet so well that we believe they are an odd but believable couple. The film immediately cuts to Joel crying in the car and we are led to believe that this is well into the future when they break up, not just a couple of days before when they meet on the beach.
Other themes, mostly connected with love, are:
Trust:
Patrick breaks Clem's trust by falling in love with her while she is a sleep. The ending where they get back together is based entirely that they trust each other and their instincts (see: fate)
Fate:
What is the difference between Joel saying the lines and giving the presents to when Patrick says the same things to Clem? It doesn't feel right for her, it wasn't meant to be. The same goes for Mary and Dr Howard. What makes her gravitate back towards Dr Howard even after her memory of him was erased? How did Clementine know to go to the beach on Valentines day? If Joel had not of had the procedure done would he have gone to Montauk that day and re-met Clem?
Loss:
There comes a point where Joel feels so sentimental that he no longer wants to have the procedure done. Unfortunately for him, this is half way through the procedure when he is heavily sedated (Stan and Mary get drunk and dance on his bed). The movie has a realistic feel because many of us can relate to Joel's sense of loss when Clem leaves him. We understand what he is gong through on a very human level because we have all cried and gotten mad when someone we care about leaves us.
Memory:
Why do we remember things a certain way? Over time, Joel would have forgotten the bad things about their relationship. He realises that he wants to keep the good ones. I think this is what will ultimately doom their relationship if they give it another go. They will soon start to remember the bad things, the things that annoy each other, why they ended it in the first place.
Science Fiction:
This procedure is not real though the movie makes it look believable. It raises questions (mostly through the character of Mary) as to how ethical it is what they do to people (is it right or wrong).
Conflict
Are there any conflict that show the themes? What is the difference between an internal conflict and an external conflict? The biggest external conflict is between Clementine and Joel. The fact that she erases him seemingly on a whim. The internal conflict lies within Joel, at first whether he should have the procedure done also, then, how to save the memory of Clem.
In the sub-plot, there are many conflicts. Between Dr Howard, Mary and his wife, between Stan and Mary, between Mary and herself (should she release all the tapes back to the people? Is what they are doing ethical?)
Plot and Structure
The plot is the order of events, the structure is the way they are organised. In "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MInd" the stucture is non-linear and jumps around between 3 main time frames:
1) The present time. This is established at the start. Joel wakes up and impulsively goes to Montauk. He meets Clem, they end up back at hers, he leaves. The next day they go to the frozen river, they go home and Clem goes to get her toothbrush. (The movie cuts to the past at this point and this story continues later on in the movie). While inside Clem grabs her mail and with it is the tape sent by Mary. In the car they listen to the tape and the movie heads towards its climax- will they get (back) together?
2) The immediate past. This is 3 days before Valentine's Day. It begins with Joel crying in the car. This is immediately after the end of their relationship. He tries to figure things out by talking to his friends. The man gives him the letter from Lacuna explaining what Clem has done and Joel then decides to do the procedure too.
3) The distant past. We learn all about their relationship through Joel's memories.
Things get confusing for the view the first time because these three time frames are mixed together. This is to show the confusion that Joel faces during the procedure because he is having flashbacks of his past 2 years with Clem.
Here are some terms to learn about plot and structure:
BEGINNING:
We begin the movie near the end. Joel wakes and hears a car door closing. He pulls off the sheets and sees himself in new pyjamas and looks confused. He discovers the car has been damaged and thinks the neighbours have done it. We hear his thoughts as a voiceover as he waits for the train. He is feeling "out-of-sorts". Something is up and he doesn't know what. He is in a reflective mood, thinking about love. There are a few clues and signposts in their first conversation: "Do I know you?"(Clem), "I would have thought I'd remember" (Joel), the song "Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Clementine, You were lost and gone forever, oh my darling Clementine". They form an immediate bond and this is evident in their intimacy. The purpose of the long introduction sequence is to give the impression that this is their first meeting. It ends with a sharp contrast of a cut to Joel crying, at night, in the rain, in his car listening to sad music.
TURNING POINT:
The turning point for Joel is during the memory in the forest in autumn. He decides he does not want the procedure anymore and the memory of Clem tells him to wake up- which he does, but only momentarily. This begins the complications during the procedure.
ENDING:
The ending is where a character shows change in him or herself. It is where the story offers a resolution (ie. an ending that satisfies the story). As a class we have decided that they do get together at the end but we as viewers are left to decide for ourselves if it will work this time or will they actually rediscover all the little annoying things that ended their relationship in the first place.
CRISIS:
Every story has an event (a crisis) that begins the main story. Joel's first crisis is in the bookstore when Clem does not recognise him and already has a new boyfriend. This begins the chain of events in the story. Clem has already had her crisis and dealt with it, however, the narrative point of view is through Joel's perspective.
CONFLICT:
Joel's conflict is what now to do about Clem. He wants to save the relationship but can't if she doesn't recognise him. The next conflict is when his friends shows him the letter. Should he now do the same to her?
CLIMAX:
The climactic moment in this movie is just before the resolution. It occurs in the hallway when Clem is leaving Joel forever after hearing the tapes. Joel calls out, "Wait. Just wait." Clem says, "Why" and Joel replies, "I don't know, just wait." The audience has been waiting for this moment- will they get back together.
SUB-PLOT:
The sub-plots in this movie parallel the main plot. The affair between Dr Howard and Mary has the same ethical dilemma about selective memory loss and whether it is the right thing to do. It also raises the question- can you stop natural feelings (or fate, if you believe in fate)? Even after the procedure Mary is still naturally attracted to Dr Howard. This is the same force that makes Joel and Clem gravitate back to each other after the procedure. There is another sub-plot about Patrick and Clem forming a relationship.
Setting and Context
The setting is the where and when. Context is the situation or circumstance of the events.
What is the main setting?
The main time and place is in New York in February, in the 3 days leading up to Valentine's Day. It is 2004.
Does the setting affect the characters or the story?
Valentine's Day is significant because of its obvious symbolism. Montauk beach in February is freezing and has snow on it. This is unconventional as a Hollywood movie love would normally be connected with a hot beach with semi-naked people etc.. this is another way of showing that their relationship is unconventional, the story of their love is unconventional. This contributes to the feeling that this movie is realistic (along with the camera work, lighting, acting, etc...).
Symbol
What symbols are there in this movie?
What do they mean?
How effective are they?
When and where are they shown?
How do they help to show themes?