This fantastic Charlie Kauffman story revolves around two characters - Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, who love each other, but after a sour period, undergo an operation to delete the other from their memories.
The movie can be placed in genres of drama and romance. But it is unlike any other romantic movie - neither like the 'love-ful' emotional romantic movies, nor like the teenage comedies. But still, a drama so strong, which is more romantic than any romantic movies and more hilarious than any comedies. Kate Winslet goes first followed by Jim Carrey. The movie is focused on Jim Carrey's part of the memory deletion process.
The memory deletion process involves targeting these memories, portrayed as points in different part of the brain, and deleting those points. Like any other mind, there are superficial layers and there are deep embedded layers. The bad memories of their relationship are superficial and get removed easily. However, when the deeper layers of love surface during the operation, Jim Carrey realizes that he doesn't want to lose these memories.
And then begins the mental struggle to run away from the process (he is in sleep so can't run away physically) into neverlands, wonderlands, childhood etc. To run and hide at least some memories, so that he can wake up before all are finished and go back to Kate Winslet for a fresh start (who by the way has lost all her memories). In these endeavours, Kate Winslet's projection of his mind also helps him.
Elijah Wood (LOTR's Froddo Baggins) also plays a small part in the movie. He mentions in one of the interviews that Michel Gondry (director) hasn't used a single special effect in the movie. I don't know how he managed to move the frames of memories but if Elijah Wood is true, the cinematography is real magic.
A pleasant surprise to find three Hindi songs as background music in a scene. Probably all Lata's, the one I remember is "Vaada naa tod". Also two very good quotes in the movie, which I would add here:
1. Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders.
2. As the movie says: by Alexander Pope
How happy is the blameless vessle's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd
The romantic part of the movie is OK. I mean everyone knows that relationships are so good and attractive in the beginning and at a later stage, disagreements always appear. But the dramatization of it is true masterwork. There is only one word for such a drama - beautiful.
I read somewhere that this movie will appeal to only people who have been in such a love. However, I would say that it is also interesting from a psychological point of view and suggest this movie in case you haven't seen it. Definitely in my top 5 favourites' list.
