Memory in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind


I read once about how the original script for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind had end scenes where Clementine was shown to go back to the Lacuna firm to erase her memories of Joel countless times. I think that adds a whole new dimension to the film since it shows how self-destructive human behavior can be when faced with a loving albeit toxic romantic relationship. As a viewer, you want Joel and Clementine to find fulfillment with each other, but unexplainable chemistry does not constitute a healthy relationship. The well-known quote, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result” applies to this situation. The chances of Joel and Clementine finding each other over and over again seems like predestined fate, yet they never work out. The universe or a higher power seem to be playing with them, but since their memories are wiped, they can never learn from their mistakes. They are destined to drive each other crazy on an endless cycle.

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