![]() ![]() In effect, two parallel processes will now emerge moving in opposite directions. In fact, the first memories that are erased are Joel’s memories of visiting Lacuna and contracting for the repression (demonstrating what Freud discovered on his way to the Structural Theory, that for repression to work, the process must itself be repressed). The main action of the film occurs in Joel’s mind as the memories are being erased, with a subplot intertwined as we also watch the neurotic, bumbling memory erasers at work and play during the night that Joel is undergoing the procedure. We see two gawky technicians setting up some kind of apparatus on Joel’s head as he sleeps, sedated, in his bed. Utilizing one of Kaufman’s fantasy devices, he has contracted with a company called “Lacuna, Inc.” to erase his memories of his former girlfriend, Clementine Kruczynski, the same woman he has met at Montauk after the repression. We soon learn that Joel is the victim of massive repression. In this film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, he allows us to examine the relationship between memory and meaning as it unfolds in the analytic process, and perhaps even gives us a cinematic equivalent of transference. It wouldn’t give him much of a living, but in a sense he is a psychoanalyst’s screenwriter. In Adaptation, he shows himself writing the film’s script while divided into twin brothers. In Being John Malkovitch, people could inhabit each other’s minds. The screenwriter, Charlie Kaufman, has made a career of exploring the limits of the human mind by putting it into strange situations. The man’s name is Joel Barish, and he has not actually entered an analytic consulting room (nor the Twilight Zone), but into a film written by Charlie Kaufman, which is close to the same thing. I think my chances of that happening are somewhat diminished seeing that I can’t make eye contact with a woman that I don’t know.”-and needy-“Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?” Nevertheless, he has spent a night walking and lying on the iced over Charles River in Boston with a woman he just met on that trip to Montauk, and was about to take her home to his apartment. He describes himself as shy-“If only I could meet someone now. I’m not an impulsive person.” He discovers that there are two years of entries torn out of his diary, entries he does not remember making. “I ditched work today, took a train out to Montauk. Thus Joel and Clementine both get to listen to their initial tape recordings at Lacuna, and afterwards realize that even if everything in life isn't perfect, their relationship can still be worthwhile.A man comes to analysis complaining of strange behavior and large gaps in his memory. Once Mary learns of the affair she has had with Mierzwiak, she steals the company's records and sends them to all of its clients. These romantic entanglements turn out to have a critical effect on the main story line of the relationship between Joel and Clementine. Lonely, socially inept Patrick becomes fixated on Clementine and uses Joel's personal mementos that he gave to Lacuna as part of the procedure in order to seduce her. She agreed to have the affair erased from her memory when his wife discovered the relationship. Howard Mierzwiak, who heads the company (Tom Wilkinson). Mary (Kirsten Dunst) has had an affair with the married Dr. In separate and related story arcs, the employees of Lacuna Corporation are revealed to be more than peripheral characters in scenes which further show the harm caused by the memory-altering procedure. We watch their love and courtship go in reverse: The memories are slowly erased while Joel tries his best to resist the procedure and hide inside his mind. ![]() Much of the film takes place in Joel's brain as he tries to find a way to preserve his memories of Clementine, and two Lacuna techies Patrick (Elijah Wood) and Stan (Mark Ruffalo) try to erase the memories. However, while unconscious, Joel has second thoughts and decides he wants to keep his memories of Clementine. Upon learning this, Joel is devastated and goes to the doctor to have the same procedure done. After a nasty fight, Clementine has had her memories of their relationship erased from her mind. They do not realize it at the time, but they are former lovers now separated after two years together. They are inexplicably attracted to each other despite their different personalities. Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) is an emotionally withdrawn man and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) is his girlfriend who is a dysfunctional free spirit.
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