NON-LINEAR STRUCTURE - FILM REVIEW

Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) is based   around the socially-reserved and awkward character of Joel Barish. “Joel is stunned to discover that his girlfriend Clementine has had her memories of their tumultuous relationship erased. Out of desperation, he contracts the inventor of the process, Dr. Howard Mierzwaik, to have Clementine removed from his own memory. But as Joel's memories progressively disappear, he begins to rediscover their earlier passion. From deep within the recesses of his brain, Joel attempts to escape the procedure. As Dr. Mierzwiak and his crew chase him through the maze of his memories, it's clear that Joel just can't get her out of his head.” (Focus Features) This review will be exploring how Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) follows a non-linear style of storytelling.

Non-linear narrative/ storytelling is identified as a disjointed or disrupted narrative. It is used within all types of media including literature and film. It refers to events and stories which are not told in chronological order or in other ways in which the narrative doesn't follow the usual method of storytelling. This can include parallel plot lines, dream immersions or narration of another plot (sub plot) within the main plot. One of the main reasons for a non-linear narrative is to represent the human memory which is what Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) focuses on deeply.

“Nonlinear narratives often use flashbacks or flash forwards in which past or future events are revealed through memory or other methods during exposition of a current event.” (Sharma, 2014) Most of the film takes place in the character Joel’s head reciting various memories or him and his ex-girlfriend Clementine. At the beginning of the film the two characters meet on the train, it is believed to be the first time the characters are coming into contact. (fig. 1) It is later revealed that the two characters have had a previous relationship together and this beginning is portraying the future. 

Figure 1 - Beginning train scene

After finding out that Clementine has erased her memories of his relationship with her, he decides to do the same. While the procedure is taking place, it cuts between various memories of the two characters. From this point, the film instantly jumps forward only to start moving backward. The memories being shown start towards of the end their relationship, and display the characters slowing falling apart. As the film progresses earlier memories of the two characters are shown, for it to end with the scene where the two characters meet for the first time. “The core of the film is then spent watching the downward spiral of their relationship as it retreats in time.” 

“Clementine’s hair is an incredibly reliable point of reference throughout the ever-changing, manipulative style of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” (Saporito, 2015) The film’s plot style could be very confusing to follow as Joel’s character’s appearance doesn't change drastically enough to distinguish between the different times. However, as told by Saporito Clementine’s choice of appearance, especially her choice of hair style, allows the audience to understand clearly what point in time they are watching. At the beginning of Joel and Clem’s relationship her hair is green, representing positivity and hope which is what the two characters have (fig 2). The majority of the memories include her having red hair, as the characters are infatuated with one another. But when they slowly start to fall apart and there is conflict between them, her hair is shown as being orange/muddy representing their loss of strong affection and desire. When deciding to erase her memory it results in her changing it to blue, a much more sorrowful colour. Therefore, this helps the audience keep the film’s chronology straight as it weaves in and out of various time lines.

Figure 2: First time Joel and Clementine meet

While the audience are taken through Joel’s memories, the film constantly flicks back to the people from Lacuna who are performing Joel’s memory erasure. (fig. 3) This is the sub plot for the story, a different set of characters and narrative. These two narratives run parallel along one another, however the narrative structure of the two of the them are contrasting. Joel’s memories are running backwards starting with the end of their relationship presenting a non-linear narrative, while the sub plot runs chronologically.  Although following different narrative structures, the two are still connected as at various points in the film Joel is able to hear and understand what the employees are saying. Overall this adds more complexity and depth to the film’s structure while also providing the audience with an escape from Joel’s complicated story. 

Figure 3: Lacuna performing memory erasure

Overall it can said Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’s (2004) non-linear approach to storytelling leaves the audience to determine themselves what is happening in the film, and the order in which everything is taking place. The role of Clementine’s appearance also plays an important role, as it grants the audience with physical representation of the time they are set in. And the use of parallel two narratives allow a break from Joe’s complex story, while providing a contrast of conventional storytelling. 

Bibliography:

Brek, M. (2018). How Editing Shapes Story in ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. [online] Film School Rejects. Available at: https://filmschoolrejects.com/editing-shapes-story-eternal-sunshine-spotless-mind/ [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].

 Sccweb.scea.wa.edu.au. (n.d.). Narrative Structure. [online] Available at: http://sccweb.scea.wa.edu.au/SCCMedia/StudentResources/web/eternal_sunshine12MPA_2009/Site/Narrative_Structure.html [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].

Saporito, J. (2015). How does Clementine's hair help us understand "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" | ScreenPrism. [online] Screenprism.com. Available at: http://screenprism.com/insights/article/how-does-clementines-hair-help-us-understand-eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotle [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].

Sharma, D. (2014). The Labyrinth of memories : Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. [online] Available at: https://divyasharma06.wordpress.com/2014/12/26/the-labyrinth-of-memories-the-eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind/ [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].

Illustration list: 

Figure 1: Beginning train scene, [Online] Available at: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/67681/15-unforgettable-facts-about-eternal-sunshine-spotless-mind [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].

Figure 2: First time Joel and Clementine meet, [Online] Available at: https://suzannecamfield.wordpress.com/2018/04/26/eternal-sunshine/ [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].

Figure 3: Lacuna performing memory erasure, [Online] Available at: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/eternal-sunshine/images/196168/title/stan-patrick-photo [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].