Interpreting Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. (spoilers)

Bomby · 06-05-2007, 11:04 AM

For as long as we've had a movie forum, I don't think we've ever had a thread that inspires to interpret the ambiguities of any film. Plenty of threads on whether or now we liked certain films, or when they'll come out, and so on, but never this.

Anyways, if you've never seen this movie, answers will likely contain spoilers, so be warned.

1. Do you think Clementine might have had any similar feelings and desires to keep her memories her procedure?
2. Will Joel and Clementine get back together without any memory, or will they listen to what the tapes say?
3. How would the Lacuna patients change at the end of the procedure if all the bad memories were erased and the good memories were kept, or vice versa?
Spoiler Below

4. Was Mary causing a disservice by sending the Lacuna patients their personal files back?

Discuss.

**Sean P Kelly** · 06-06-2007, 12:35 AM

Interpretation topics don't really work in a forum like this. You need a board entirely devoted to the movie (like the ones on IMDb), so you can post topics with certain questions.

Plus, the film is 3 years old and I think only hardcore movie buffs (myself included) want to talk about it at this point.

***CaptHayfever*** · 06-06-2007, 12:54 AM

1) I'm not sure I understand the question.
2) I thought Joel & Clementine already listened to the tapes, though.
3) If they kept only the good memories, they would wonder why the relationship ended (or at least get suspicious about how everything could be so perfect). If they kept only the bad memories, they would wonder why they were ever with that person to begin with.
4) On the contrary, if anything, I'd say she reversed the disservice that they did themselves. You can't learn from life if you can't remember it.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

**Sean P Kelly** · 06-06-2007, 08:36 AM

Oh Well...

1. If you meant during her procedure, that we shall never know.

2. The film already strongly hints (without revealing it straight out) that they do get back together.

3. I think that beats the point of the process.

4. I think she brought the files back, because she is living proof that the process does not truly work (you can erase the memories, but the feelings are still there)

Bomby · 06-06-2007, 11:36 AM

I figured an interpretation topic could spark interesting discussion, even if the movie is a few years old (three years still seems pretty recent to me, I could've swore I saw this movie in theaters last year). If it's not successful, no big loss.

To clarify question one, I was referencing how toward the end of the procedure, Joel had lost all the bad memories of Clementine and, because he only had the good ones, realized he was still in love with her. My question is whether or not you think Clementine might have fallen back in love with Joel toward the end of her operation, assuming the recent memories were deleted first.

I actually didn't really think the movie gave much of a hint toward whether or not Joel and Clementine would get back together. The evidence for them getting back together was the same natural attraction that occurred between them that had happened when they met at the beach. However, I think they both realized that there was a strong possibility that they would begin to become sick of each other again, and feel how they said they felt on the tapes.

Question three was really dumb, I will admit. Not quite as dumb of a question as "Was Patrick and ******* or what?" or "Did Kate Winslet look better with red or blue hair?" would've been, though.

I can agree with Hayfever on his answer to question four. It could be seen as a disservice to people who wanted to see Clementine and Joel get back together.

**Perrin Aybara** · 06-06-2007, 12:12 PM

I don't see how there's much to interpret with this film.

It's a great film. But I didn't have many questions when I watched it. (I watched it again recently, too).

Anyway, I just wanted to point out that I thought it was funny that Kirsten Dunst played a slut, like how she plays a slut in all of her movies.-jay

***CaptHayfever*** · 06-06-2007, 11:47 PM

Wait, did you mean "listen to the tapes" as in "follow the advice from the tapes"? I thought you just mean playing the tapes.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Bomby · 06-07-2007, 03:26 PM

^ My language ain't not no ambiguous none?

06-05-2007, 11:04 AM	#1
Bomby I saved Latin! What did you ever do? Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The People's Republic of Madison, WI Gender: Posts: 15,022 Thanks: 203 Thanked 527 Times in 349 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 8,798.75 Bank: 2,225,874.99 Total Points: 2,234,673.74 Donate	Interpreting Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. (spoilers) For as long as we've had a movie forum, I don't think we've ever had a thread that inspires to interpret the ambiguities of any film. Plenty of threads on whether or now we liked certain films, or when they'll come out, and so on, but never this. Anyways, if you've never seen this movie, answers will likely contain spoilers, so be warned. 1. Do you think Clementine might have had any similar feelings and desires to keep her memories her procedure? 2. Will Joel and Clementine get back together without any memory, or will they listen to what the tapes say? 3. How would the Lacuna patients change at the end of the procedure if all the bad memories were erased and the good memories were kept, or vice versa? Spoiler Below 4. Was Mary causing a disservice by sending the Lacuna patients their personal files back? Discuss.

06-06-2007, 12:35 AM	#2
Sean P Kelly SMBHQ Mod Movies Mod Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,269 Thanks: 9 Thanked 43 Times in 33 Posts Points: 181,173.10 Bank: 70,395.38 Total Points: 251,568.47 Donate	Interpretation topics don't really work in a forum like this. You need a board entirely devoted to the movie (like the ones on IMDb), so you can post topics with certain questions. Plus, the film is 3 years old and I think only hardcore movie buffs (myself included) want to talk about it at this point.

06-06-2007, 12:54 AM	#3
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,401 Thanks: 170 Thanked 779 Times in 497 Posts Points: 108,405.95 Bank: 1,040.34 Total Points: 109,446.29 Donate	1) I'm not sure I understand the question. 2) I thought Joel & Clementine already listened to the tapes, though. 3) If they kept only the good memories, they would wonder why the relationship ended (or at least get suspicious about how everything could be so perfect). If they kept only the bad memories, they would wonder why they were ever with that person to begin with. 4) On the contrary, if anything, I'd say she reversed the disservice that they did themselves. You can't learn from life if you can't remember it. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

06-06-2007, 08:36 AM	#4
Sean P Kelly SMBHQ Mod Movies Mod Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,269 Thanks: 9 Thanked 43 Times in 33 Posts Points: 181,173.10 Bank: 70,395.38 Total Points: 251,568.47 Donate	Oh Well... 1. If you meant during her procedure, that we shall never know. 2. The film already strongly hints (without revealing it straight out) that they do get back together. 3. I think that beats the point of the process. 4. I think she brought the files back, because she is living proof that the process does not truly work (you can erase the memories, but the feelings are still there)

06-06-2007, 11:36 AM	#5
Bomby I saved Latin! What did you ever do? Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The People's Republic of Madison, WI Gender: Posts: 15,022 Thanks: 203 Thanked 527 Times in 349 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 8,798.75 Bank: 2,225,874.99 Total Points: 2,234,673.74 Donate	I figured an interpretation topic could spark interesting discussion, even if the movie is a few years old (three years still seems pretty recent to me, I could've swore I saw this movie in theaters last year). If it's not successful, no big loss. To clarify question one, I was referencing how toward the end of the procedure, Joel had lost all the bad memories of Clementine and, because he only had the good ones, realized he was still in love with her. My question is whether or not you think Clementine might have fallen back in love with Joel toward the end of her operation, assuming the recent memories were deleted first. I actually didn't really think the movie gave much of a hint toward whether or not Joel and Clementine would get back together. The evidence for them getting back together was the same natural attraction that occurred between them that had happened when they met at the beach. However, I think they both realized that there was a strong possibility that they would begin to become sick of each other again, and feel how they said they felt on the tapes. Question three was really dumb, I will admit. Not quite as dumb of a question as "Was Patrick and ******* or what?" or "Did Kate Winslet look better with red or blue hair?" would've been, though. I can agree with Hayfever on his answer to question four. It could be seen as a disservice to people who wanted to see Clementine and Joel get back together.

06-06-2007, 12:12 PM	#6
Perrin Aybara LLLUUUCCCCCCAAA!!! Ban HotD Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Alone....so terribly alone... Some... where... out... there... dies Gender: Posts: 11,795 Thanks: 184 Thanked 357 Times in 178 Posts Points: 62,738.84 Bank: 151,320.92 Total Points: 214,059.76 Donate	I don't see how there's much to interpret with this film. It's a great film. But I didn't have many questions when I watched it. (I watched it again recently, too). Anyway, I just wanted to point out that I thought it was funny that Kirsten Dunst played a slut, like how she plays a slut in all of her movies.-jay

06-06-2007, 11:47 PM	#7
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,401 Thanks: 170 Thanked 779 Times in 497 Posts Points: 108,405.95 Bank: 1,040.34 Total Points: 109,446.29 Donate	Wait, did you mean "listen to the tapes" as in "follow the advice from the tapes"? I thought you just mean playing the tapes. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

06-07-2007, 03:26 PM	#8
Bomby I saved Latin! What did you ever do? Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The People's Republic of Madison, WI Gender: Posts: 15,022 Thanks: 203 Thanked 527 Times in 349 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 8,798.75 Bank: 2,225,874.99 Total Points: 2,234,673.74 Donate	^ My language ain't not no ambiguous none?