Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2004 American comedy-drama by Michel Gondry starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman. Details on IMDB and Wikipedia.

Love as Fate and Willing Acceptance

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1          Synopsis
2          Analysis
3          Narrative Structure
4          Character Design
5          Thematic Design
6          Obstacle Design
7          Plot Breakdown

Synopsis

Central Idea

Love will be given a chance through fate but will only lead to a happy relationship with trust and willing acceptance of each other’s faults.

Summary

Joel and Clementine are at the pained end of their relationship. After a fight, Joel finds out that Clementine has had all her memory of their relationship erased. He reacts by pursuing the same operation. As his memory of their relationship is erased from the present moment backwards, he reaches some sweet memories of happiness he would rather hold onto. Joel turns around and actively seeks to stop the process to save his memory. He takes the Clementine in his memory and they hide in his memories of early childhood to avoid being detected and erased. As they avoid detection together Joel rediscovers the joy of Clementine’s companionship and the root of their love. Their escape fails and the operation is completed successfully. Joel wakes up with an unknown urge to go to where he had first met Clementine. There, he runs into a similarly searching Clementine and they unknowingly fall in love a second time. Upon returning home they discover audiotapes from their operations, revealing their own taped bitter feelings about each other at the end of their last relationship. Together they choose to try again with greater acceptance of each other knowing full well the pain and compromise that will come with their love.

Analysis

JOEL                      I don’t see anything I don’t like about you.
CLEMENTINE      But you will! But you will, and I will get bored with you and feel trapped, because that’s what happens with me.
JOEL                      Okay.
CLEMENTINE      Okay.
JOEL                      Okay. [END]

ETERNAL SUNSHINE’s narrative is essentially a love story told backwards. It deals with the traditional problem of reverse narrative in a new way. The traditional problem is that if the audience already knows the ending (bitter breakup), then telling the story in reverse asks the audience the question of “is it worth it?” as we watch the story back to the beginning (falling in love). This intellectualizes the experience rather than giving us dramatic action. ETERNAL SUNSHINE deals with this problem of intellectualization by giving the protagonist an active role in the reverse narrative. Joel is able to interact with his old memories to try to stop the process of erasing; this attempt to escape is the major sub-plot of the film. The catharsis of the audience comes with his rediscovery of his love for Clementine as they try to escape together. They fail to escape at the climax of this sub-plot and his memory is erased. But the lovers meet again by fate and once again fall in love. This fake climax of the main love-story plot is placed at the beginning of the film and again at the end of the film – the audience realizes the despite losing all their memory, the lovers meet and fall in love again. If the film ended there, it would have been a good film, and the central idea would have been “Love happens because of fate”. But the problem would have been that Joel went through this huge journey of discovery and change but that all seems to go to waste if fate was just going to put them together again – he needs to be the one making an active choice that demonstrates his internal change at climax. The real climax of ETERNAL SUNSHINE comes out of the reversal at the end, in which the Joel and Clementine discover their bitter past and must choose whether or not to commit despite their past. This resurfaces Joel’s inner journey. He and she choose to commit, completing Joel’s journey of internal change with an external action. The central idea now becomes “Love happens because of fate but it will only result in a happy relationship with open acceptance of each other and the painful compromises that come with love”. This real climax fueled by true character change, dilemma and choice is what makes the film great. The climax completes the audience catharsis experienced through Joel’s rediscovery of love; as a result he wins the girl and we are touched by a great story.

JOEL                      Okay.
CLEMENTINE      Okay.
JOEL                      Okay. [END]

Plot Structure

PLOT TYPE	PLOT	CENTRAL IDEA	ARC
MAIN	Joel-Clementine	Love will be given a chance through fate but will only succeed with willing acceptance of each other’s faults. Will they find lasting love together?	Joel and Clementine fall in love by fate twice. Then choose to love each other on the third time by accepting that they will have pain along with the love.
SUB-PLOT	Escape Operation Joel-Howard	Love as fate that can’t be erased. Will the operation erase Joel’s memory?	Joel engages Howard (Lacuna Inc.) to erase his memory, he changes his mind half way through, tries to stop the procedure but fails.
SUB-PLOT	Clementine-Patrick	Love as fate can’t be faked. Will Patrick win Clementine with love’s words and actions?	Patrick falls in love with Clementine and uses Joel’s memory and artifacts to try to win Clementine over. He fails.
SUB-PLOT	Stan-Mary	Love can’t be forced. Love needs to be built on trust. Will Stan win Mary’s love?	Stan falls in love and tries to win Mary over but fails when Mary falls in love with Howard a second time after her memory was erased.
SUB-PLOT	Mary-Howard	Love as fate can’t be denied. Echoes Main Plot. Will Mary and Howard find love together?	Mary erased her memory because her love with the married Howard can’t possibly last. But she falls in love with him again. because Howard was too weak to put on distance with the new Mary. Upon discovering Howard’s deception she destroys Lacuna Inc.

Character Design

JOEL

Desire: to have child-like blissful happiness again
Secret Desire: to be understood
Fear: to be betrayed
Traits: introverted, sensitive, analytical, well-read, judgmental

CLEMENTINE

Desire: to have fun
Secret Desire: to have someone who loves her for who she is
Fear: to be judged
Traits: impulsive, funky, exciting, excitable

Thematic Design

1) Love happens because of fate; you cannot manipulate fate.
2) Love needs acceptance, trust and responsibility and is hurt by the reverse.

Obstacle Design

Plot Breakdown

	PLOT	ACTION < REVELATION > PAYOFF ? GAP OF EXPECTATION	VALUE (+) pos (-) neg	CHARACTER
1	Joel-Clem	Joel wakes up, skips work to goto Montauk beach. > headache > car is dented > journal pages missing > beach house ? What happened before	(-) Alone	Assumes next car dented his car. Complains about hypocrisy of V-day. Surprised at own impulsiveness.
2	Joel-Clem	Joel and Clementine meet. (on the beach, café, train station and on train).	(-) Alone	Judges self: thinks falls in love easily. Dislikes self for not being able to talk to someone new. Clem waves at stranger Joel.
3	Joel-Clem	Clementine talks to Joel. Joel talks but goes back to his journal. < you’re “nice” < Huckleberry Hound	(-) Comm	Joel is shy and reserved and doesn’t know how to open up. Clementine compliments Joel on being “nice”.
4	Joel-Clem	Joel offers Clementine a ride, share laugh about stalker. Clementine offers Joel drink. < dressed up potatoes	(+) Love	Joel steps out from his shell a little. Clem says she will marry Joel.
5	Joel-Clem	Joel leaves before things heat up. Clem gives her phone number.	(-) Love	Clem tells him to call and what to say.
6	Joel-Clem FALSE CLIMAX Clem-Pat	Joel gets home and calls Clem. Clem takes Joel on honeymoon on ice. Clem takes toothbrush to go sleep at Joel’s. Patrick asks what Joel is doing. < Patrick voice mail < Patrick asking Joel < Letters from Lacuna (Mary) ? Who is Patrick	(+) Love	Hesitate before calling.
7	Joel-Clem (17 min)	CREDITS Joel is crying and upset in car. ? When is this ? Why is he upset	(-) Love
8	Joel-Clem Joel-How	Frank warns Joel of V-day. Stan and Patrick arrive at Joel gets ready for operation. < Dot on Joel’s head ? Who are Stan and Patrick	(-) Happy (+) Oper	Joel is reminded of Clementine.
9	Joel-Clem INCITING INCIDENT	Joel confiding in Rob/Carrie. Rob/Carrie fight over how to help Joel. Joel learns C had his memory erased. < Joel bought V-day gift < Joel says met Clem and Pat at Borders	(-) Happy	Joel is unhappy and seeks solace.
10	Joel-Clem Stan-Mary	Joel goes to Lacuna to find out what happened. Stan scares Mary.	(-) Happy
11	Joel-Clem	Joel asks Carrie why Clem would erase him.	(-) Reaction	Joel is piss mad.
12	Joel-Clem TURNING POINT (28 min) Joel-How INCITING INCIDENT	Joel goes back to Lacuna to ask to erase his memory. Howard asks Joel to collect mementos. Joel does and goes back for the procedure. > Charles letter from Clem > H introduces Joel to Stan	(-) Erase Memory Neg/Neg (+) Oper
13	Joel-How	Joel records tape of his memories. Tell about how they met. Joel reacts to Stan putting different objects. < tape / how met on beach < brain map	(+) Oper	Joel a little scared.
14	Joel-How	Pat and Stan performing the operation in Joel’s apartment. Joel sees his visit to Lacuna erased. Sees himself in chair in various places.	(-) Happy
15	Joel-How Stan-Mary Clem-Pat	Stan and Patrick conduct the operation. Joel hears name “Patrick”. < Stan invited Mary over < Patrick has a girl (Clem) < P stole underwear	(+) Oper (+) Date (+) Date	Stan belittles Patrick.
16	Joel-Clem	Joel and Clementine fight when Clem returns home late. Clem runs out on Joel. > Clem tells Joel dented his car	(-) Purpose Hurt	Clem calls Joel insecure coward. Joel calls Clem whore.
17	Joel-Clem	Joel chases Clem in car.		Joel jabs at Clem w/ act of erasing.
18	Clem-Pat	Joel hears Patrick has new girl.	(+) Relat	Patrick deceived Clem.
19	Joel-Clem	Joel and Clem are bored over take out. Clem leaves for night over Joel’s childishness.	(-) Love	Joel and Clem. Clem says should have left him at flea market.
20	Joel-How Clem-Pat	Joel hears Patrick stole Clem’s underwear. Stan and Patrick share laugh at Joel’s expense. > Pat’s new girl is Clem	(-) Confused	Joel is confused and scared.
21	Joel-Clem	Clem wants baby. Joel says Clem not ready. Clem accuses Joel of fear of commitment.	(-) Comm	Joel judges Clem to be bad mother. Joel tries to avoid conversation.
22	Stan-Mary	Mary arrives. Stan and Mary drink Joel’s alcohol and flirt. They both ignore Patrick. > quotes Bartletts	(+) Love	Pat tries to get Stan’ respect and Mary’ attention. Pat tries to join the conversation.
23	Joel-Clem	Clem wants Joel to open up. Joel says Clem talks too much.	(-) Love	Joel belittles Clem’s sincere want of intimacy.
24	Joel-Clem	Joel and Clem fight over dinner.	(-) Love	Joel calls them “dining dead”. Clem calls Joel disgusting. Joel belittles Clem’s vocabulary.
25	Clem-Pat	Patrick goes to cheer Clem up > P calls Clem “Tangerine”.	(+) Comm	Patrick uses Joel’s words.
26	Joel-Clem Clem-Pat	Joel hears Clem on phone with Patrick. Joel sees himself at Barnes & Noble. Joel tries to see Pat’s face but fails.	(-) Love (+) Comm	Joel is lost and confused. Helpless as Pat is stealing him girlfriend.
27	Stan-Mary	Mary tells Patrick to go.	(+) Love	Patrick feels rejected.
28	Joel-Clem Joel-How	Clem shows off new Tangerine hair to Joel. Joel asks Clem how Pat knew to call Clem “Tangerine”.	(+) Love (-) Losing identity
29	Stan-Mary Mary-How	Stan and Mary get stoned on Joel’s bed. Mary talks about Howard to Stan.	(-) Love (+) Love	Stan tries to change subject.
30	Clem-Pat	Patrick cheers up Clem. Clem asks him to go to Boston.	(+) Love	Patrick uses Joel’s words.
31	Stan-Mary	Stan and Mary dance on Joel’s bed.	(+) Love	Joel’s depressed hesitant voice mail.
32	Clem-Pat	Patrick checks his mementos before going to Boston. Patrick gives V-day gift to Clem.	(+) Love	Clem impressed with V-day present.
33	Joel-Clem Joel-How	Joel reassures Clem that she’s not ugly. Joel wants to keep this memory.	(+) Happy (-) Gone	Joel reassures Clem.
34	Joel-Clem	Joel and Clem share happiness on Charles. Joel loses Clem in train station floor.	(+) Happy, Comm	Joel is blissfully happy and tells Clem.
35	Joel-Clem TURNING POINT 55 min	Joel gathers Clem to escape together. They travel through various glimpses back to Lacuna. Joel confronts Howard that Pat is stealing Clem with his identity.	(+) Team	Joel actively tries to escape.
36	Clem-Pat CLIMAX	Pat tells Clem Joel’s words on Charles. Clem is offended and leaves.	(-) Weird	Clem is freaked out.
37	Joel-Clem Joel-How	Clem tell Joel to try to wake up. Joel does for a second.	(+) Comm (+) Awake	Joel mocks Clem’s idea. Clem accuses Joel of wanting to prove her wrong. Joel admits he loves Clem because of her impulsiveness
38	Joel-Clem	Clem gives Joel another idea. Joel follows.	(+) Team	Joel listens to Clem’s idea.
39	Joel-Clem	Clem helps Joel stay composed under kitchen table in Joel’s childhood memory.	(+) Shared Memory	Clem cares for Baby Joel.
40	Stan-Mary	Stan finds out erasing stopped. Mary forces Stan to call Howard.	(-) Love	Stan and Mary freak out under pressure.
41	Joel-Clem	Joel tells Clem Pat is stealing her.	(+) Team
42	Clem-Pat	Clem freaks out in the car. Patrick tries to cheer Clem up. Backfires. > you’re “nice”	(-) Love	Clem is freaked out more because she doesn’t know why she is freaked out.
43	Stan-Mary	Clean up the apartment.	(-) Love	They bicker as they clean up.
44	Joel-How Mary-How	Howard arrives. Mary helps Howard settle in. Howard goes after Joel.	(-) (+) Love
45	Joel-Clem	Joel and Clem bathed in sink by mom.	(+) Intimate	Clem shares Joel’s security in sink.
46	Joel-How	Howards finds them and gives Joel shot when his eyes open. Joel fails to wake up.	(-) Found
47	Joel-Clem	J and C crashing in on a drive in theater.	(+) Fun	Joel and Clem share movie antics.
48	Joel-How	Howard finds Joel and Clem. Joel and Clem unsuccessfully try to go back to Lacuna.	(-) Found	Joel is losing the fight. Lacuna is getting blurry.
49	Joel-Clem	Clem gives another idea for Joel to hide them deeper, in his humiliation. Joel does.	(+) Comfort	Clem comforts Joel over humiliating memory.
50	Joel-How	Howard finds Joel and Clem.	(-) Found	Joel is alone.
51	Joel-Clem	Clem saves Joel from childhood bullies forcing him to smack the fish.	(+) Care	Joel shares his childhood memories with Clem. Clem saves Joel.
52	Joel-How	Howard finds Joel and Clem.	(-) Found	Joel is alone.
53	Joel-Clem	Joel and Clem in memory of pillow stuffing.	(-) Love	Joel reflects on childish happy times.
54	Joel-How	Joel drags Clem across snow filled beach to run and hide. > beach house	(-) Found
55	Stan-Mary	Mary refuses to go out for a smoke with Stan.	(-) Love
56	Mary-How	Mary succeeds in impressing Howard with quotes.	(+) Love
57	Joel-Clem	Date in NYC Elephants.	(+) Love	Joel remembers date with Clem.
58	Mary-How	Mary kisses Howard. Howard kisses back.	(+) Love	Howard faces dilemma of love and responsibility.
59	Stan-Mary	Stan sees M and H kiss.	(-) Love
60	Mary-How CLIMAX	Howard’s wife tells Mary that she has a history with Howard.	(-) Trust
61	Stan-Mary	Mary declines Stan’s offer of a ride home.	(-) Love
62	Joel-Clem	Joel asks Clem out at her work. Joel reminisces about her concept speech. Clem encourages Joel to remember.	(+) Accept	Joel realizes Clem had his traits pegged from the beginning. She was smarter than he believed to be.
63	Mary-How	Mary finds her own tape. Learns of history with Howard.	(-) Trust
64	Joel-Clem	Joel meets Clem at beach party. Joel stays at house this time to say goodbye. > Huckleberry Hound > Beach House	(+) Accept	Clem breaks into the house. Joel ran away from house last time because of disdain in Clem’s voice. Joel suggests they enjoy there last moments.
65	Joel-How CLIMAX	Howard finishes erasing all memories.	(-) Memory	Howard unsure how Joel became resistant to procedure.
66	Joel-Clem FAKE CLIMAX Joel-How RESOLTN	Joel wakes without his memory of Clementine. > first scene of movie	(-) Memory of Love	**Negation of negative at CLIMAX
67	Stan-Mary RESOLTN	Stan denies he knew of Mary’s operation and her relationship with Howard. Mary leaves Stan.	(-) Trust	Stan directly states his feelings.
68	Mary-How RESOLTN	Mary destroys Lacuna. Mails out all tapes to all past clients.	(-) Trust	Mary feels betrayed.
69	Joel-Clem CLIMAX	Joel and Clem listen to Clem’s tape. Joel kicks Clem out of car.	(-) Trust	Joel feels like he is made a fool.
70	Clem-Pat RESOLTN	Clem tells Patrick to get lost.	(-) Love	Clem overwhelmed.
71	Joel-Clem	Clem find her way to Joel’s apartment.		Clem cries over experience.
72	Joel-Clem RESOLTN	Joel asks Clem if they can try again. They agree.	(+) Accept	Joel accepts the fact that Clementine will get bored of him.