Film Review: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The movie is about Clementine Kruczynski and Joel Barish. Despite their strikingly different personalities, they fall in love for obvious reasons. When they realize they are not suited for each other, they try to move on but end up falling in love again and again unconsciously. To move on, they even erase each other from their memories through a scientific method. And guess what? They still fall in love again, maybe over and over.

You don’t judge this movie by reading the plot. You have to see it firsthand to experience the magic. Eternal sunshine is truly perfect in every sense. Acting, Script, Direction, Background Music and The Philosophies, everything is pitch perfect.

Raises Important Questions

How far can we go just to move on from someone? When we leave someone, their memories haunt us. We want to forget everything. Even if we could magically erase someone’s memory, would it be enough to move on?

This movie raises questions about relationships that we constantly ask ourselves. When you’re with someone for a long time, you might feel trapped. When you’ve memorized everything about someone, you start hating the things you once held so close to your heart.

Often you feel like your partner is controlling you or trying to change you. But perhaps, when you put yourself in their shoes, you’ll understand how they were only trying to do what they thought was best for you.

Or maybe your partner feels like you have a motive for everything. When you ask her something so simple, she interprets it differently. You think she’s messed up, but if you were to see it from her perspective, maybe you’d notice a pattern in your own behavior. The movie portrays all these feelings perfectly.

Symbols and Philosophy

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is rich in symbolism and philosophy. It talks about life in a profound way. It teaches you that everything has its upside and downside. On one hand, ignorance is bliss, but on the other hand, when you ignore or erase bad memories, you lose part of the good memories too. It encourages you to accept people as they are and to learn to change or perhaps forgive. It references Nietzsche, Alexander Pope, and even Tom Waits (Blue Ruin Song).

The movie lingers in your thoughts long after it ends. What if you could travel back in time? What would you change? Would you have said those mean things to your partner on Friday evening? Would you repeat the same mistakes?

If only we could change the past! But even if we could, would it have been worth it? There’s a lot to reflect on after watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Hits You Differently at Different Stages of Your Life

The film impacts you differently at various stages of your life. I remember watching it for the first time 10 years ago and finding it profoundly beautiful. Since then, I’ve watched it more than 10 times. It resonated with me after my first serious breakup, and now in my 30s, I relate to it even more. Anyone who has ever been in a serious relationship will be able to relate to Eternal Sunshine deeply.

Relatable Dialogues

There have been times I wanted to quote ESOTSM in response to my partners. The dialogues and the script are so quotable and relatable. For example, “Adults are this mess of sadness and phobia” or “I’m not a concept. Too many guys think I’m a concept or I complete them or I’m going to ‘make them alive’… but I’m just a messed up girl who’s looking for my own peace of mind. Don’t assign me yours.”

Unique Storytelling

The movie tells a nonlinear story. It doesn’t show you Joel and Clem’s story from start to finish. In one scene, you’re at their first meeting; in the next, you might be at their last. This makes Eternal Sunshine more gripping or, as some might say, mind-bending. You can follow their timeline or relationship status by observing Clementine’s hair color over the course of their relationship: green for spring (the beginning), red for fall, orange for autumn, and blue for winter (the end). I find this brilliant.

Reflection on Personal Level

ESOTSM perfectly represents how small things can mean so much to us. When Clementine says, “I apply my personality in a paste,” she instantly became my inner voice. I remember how I used to change my hairstyle according to my inner state. When I felt rebellious, I grew my hair long. When I felt comfortable in my skin, I cut it short. Anyone who knew me closely could gauge my mental state just by looking at my hair. I have never seen any movie or book articulate this as Clementine did.

Opposites Attract, Opposites Repel

What happens when two contrasting personalities enter a relationship? We’ve all heard how opposites attract, but do they repel over time, like Clem and Joel? Eternal Sunshine subtly explores these thoughts. Joel is a nerdy, introverted guy; Clem is a flashy, exciting girl. They are drawn to each other because they complete what the other lacks. Clem teaches Joel how to be brave and enjoy life; Joel teaches Clem to be more educated and refined. This sounds beautiful until they both overdo it. So, how do partners balance this?

Coincidence or Mental Connection between Lovers?

Do you ever find a mental connection with your partner? In Eternal Sunshine, Clem says during their first meeting, “Joel, I am going to marry you.” Does Clementine have psychic powers? If you read the script, it suggests she does.

When Joel was running down memory lane with Clementine, how does she get affected? How does she know something is wrong with Patrick? I think ESOTSM shows how lovers can connect with each other’s minds when they are in love. We’ve all felt that way at some point—when your soulmate is in danger or sick, your heart gives you signals, even if you’re thousands of miles apart.

Moving On…

Can we ever move on completely? Or does part of us keep loving our ex-partners forever? Even after erasing each other from their memories, Clem and Joel fall in love again, perhaps over and over. What does this tell us? Does it suggest that if something is meant to be, it’s going to happen?

If you like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, you might like this movie as well.

Memories – Scam or What

Eternal Sunshine shows that as humans, we are flawed. We don’t remember our partners or memories accurately. We only remember the feelings. With time, we forget a lot of good things, and the bad things tend to stick in our minds. As Joel moved backward from the end to the beginning of their relationship, he realized how much he liked everything about Clementine and how he had forgotten the good parts. The movie questions whether our flawed memory makes us more hostile toward our partners.

Movie Felt Grounded

The soundtrack is calm and down-to-earth throughout the movie. The film feels close to home because Joel and Clem seem like one of us—two ordinary lovers we see at train stations and parks. Despite its complex plot, the direction and cinematography make it work. It never feels over the top, even in the dream sequences. The director kept it real, and I think that’s why so many people liked it.

Ending Notes

I love how the movie has an open-ended conclusion, leaving room for multiple interpretations. The best part is that no matter which interpretation you choose to believe, you will always appreciate what Joel and Clementine decided to do. It’s beautiful that even after so much erasing, they could not stay apart. Even though they know it’s doomed, they give it another chance. What if this time it works? Isn’t that the most beautiful thing ever? Some might argue, but I find it powerful and moving.

IMDB Review: 8.3

FGM Review: 9.5